"Robots help people by making their lives easier, safer, and more fun," says engineer Omar Abdelwahed. Lately, engineers have been developing new kinds of humanoid robots. These high-tech machines are designed to lend a hand everywhere from hotels to disaster areas.
A robot named Petter has been on the job at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. When guests have questions or need directions, they can ask Petter. They can also use the robot's touch screen to find the information they need. Petter is able to talk with guests and entertain them with stories too. It can even tell what kind of mood they are in. "Petter provides our guests with information in an exciting and new way," says the hotel manager Donald Bowman.
For a kid, being in the hospital can be boring and even scary. But a small robot called NAO is helping to make hospital stays easier. It was designed to keep people company.
A Tennessee doctor named Phil Parker bought a NAO robot three years ago. He programmed it to talk to and play with young patients. He brought it to hospitals to help sick kids. When kids get medical tests, NAO explains what is going on. The robot also reads to kids and plays games with them like rock, paper, scissors. "The robot has got many kids to smile since they were in the hospital," Parker says.
Other robots are being developed to help in places where it's hard or risky for people to go. Engineers in Japan are building a robot called E2-DR to go into those dangerous areas, searching for and rescuing the people who are trapped or injured.
1. What is special in the way Petter helps guests?| A．It is easier and safer. |
| B．It is more friendly and considerate. |
| C．It is more relaxing and fun. |
| D．It is more exciting and newer. |
| A．It was programmed by its designer. |
| B．It was donated to the hospital. |
| C．It is popular with young patients. |
| D．It attracts more people to hospital. |
| A．In the hotels. |
| B．In the hospitals. |
| C．In disaster areas. |
| D．In the factories. |
| A．The part robots play in our life. |
| B．The development trend of robots. |
| C．The appearances of robots. |
| D．The future of robots. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】More than one million single-use straws (吸管), most of them plastic, are used in the United States each day. They end up in waterways, harm sea animals, and break down into micro-plastics. Quantities of places have passed plastic-straw bans as a way to start handling the global plastic waste problem.
Straw materials: advantages and disadvantages
1. Metal
Made of stainless steel, aluminum, or even titanium, metal straws have become popular. They draw some criticism for having a metallic taste and conducting heat from a hot drink, but they’re strong and can be reused.
2. Paper
Paper drinking straws, which date from the late 1800s, often absorb liquid over time and can leave a taste or fibers in drinks. They’re the most popular throwaway choice in places with plastic-straw bans.
3. Glass
Though glass straws may be more breakable and thus less portable than reusable straws of other materials, they hold up well to washing and reuse. Some straws are made to look artistic, with colors and blown-glass designs.
4. Bamboo
This natural material can be sustainably produced and is a plant-based replacement of plastic straws. Bamboo straws are easily disposed of and turned into fertilizer. They are reusable but can be hard to clean completely and may absorb flavors.
1. What is the major problem with plastic straws?| A．Function. | B．Flavor. |
| C．Weight. | D．Pollution. |
| A．Metal straw. | B．Paper straw. |
| C．Glass straw. | D．Bamboo straw. |
| A．It can become fertilizer. | B．It is easy to clean. |
| C．It is portable and bendable. | D．It has different designs. |
Imagine a world where photography is a slow process that is impossible to master without years of study. Such a world existed in 1973, when Steven Sasson, a young engineer, went to work for Eastman Kodak company.
Soon after arriving at Kodak, Mr. Sasson was given a task—to see whether there was any practical use for a charged coupled device (C.C.D.), which consisted of a sensor (传感器) that took an incoming light and transformed it into an electrical signal.
Mr. Sasson wanted to capture an image with it, but the C.C.D. couldn’t hold it because the electrical pulses (脉冲) quickly disappeared. To store the image, he decided to use digitalization, turning the electronic pulses into numbers, But that solution led to another challenge—storing it on RAM memory, then getting it onto digital tape. He also needed to invent a playback system that would take the digital information on the tape and turn it into “something that you could see” on a television set: a digital image. It was a photographic system of an all-electronic camera that didn’t use film and didn’t use paper, and no consumables (消耗品) at all in the capturing and display of still photographic images.
The camera and the playback system were the beginning of the digital photography age. But the digital revolution did not come easily at Kodak. The main objections came from the marketing and business sides. Kodak’s marketing department was not interested in it, Mr, Sasson was told they could sell the camera, but wouldn’t—because it would eat away at the company’s film sales. Though Kodak did eventually market both professional and consumer cameras, it was too late, Mr, Sasson said, “It was just a matter of time, and yet Kodak didn’t really embrace any of it.”
1. What can the C.C.D. be used for?| A．Collecting light. |
| B．Capturing pictures. |
| C．Changing light into electronic signals. |
| D．Storing images in the RAM. |
| A．It creates an age of paperless office. |
| B．It develops a better way of using films. |
| C．It invents a new way to store digital information. |
| D．It changes the way humans process images greatly. |
| A．The working rules of full digital photographic system. |
| B．The ways of developing a traditional camera. |
| C．How to make full use of the C.C.D. |
| D．How to show pictures on a TV set. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Indifferent. | C．Supportive. | D．Respectful. |
The Chinese kept their secret of how to make paper until a war with Muslims in the ninth century. The art of papermaking soon spread throughout the Muslim world.
The Mayan Indians in Central America and Pacific Islanders also discovered how to make paper, but their knowledge never spread to the rest of the world.
For centuries, all paper was made by hand. Rags were the main material. Then a French scientist discovered that people could make paper from wood, too. Finally, in the eighteenth century. a Frenchman invented a machine to make paper from wood.
1. Who discovered how to make paper?
| A．The Chinese. | B．The Pacific Islanders. |
| C．The Mayan Indians. | D．All of the above. |
| A．About 1 ,800 years ago. |
| B．About 1, 900 years ago. |
| C．About 2, 000 years ago. |
| D．About 2, 100 years ago. |
| A．Through wars. |
| B．Through the Muslims. |
| C．Through the Mayan Indians. |
| D．Through the Pacific Islanders. |
| A．The Invention of Paper. |
| B．The History of Papermaking. |
| C．Different Ways of Making Paper. |
| D．The Invention of a Papermaking Machine. |
【推荐1】In the ground below a tall New York City apartment building, several machines collect carbon dioxide(CO2)from large gas-powered boilers which help heat the building but also release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Nearly 70 percent of New York City’s large buildings have steam boilers that run on natural gas or oil. Big buildings in New York City release about two-thirds of the city’s emissions(排放). New York state’s buildings also release more air pollution than any other state.
Brian Asparro, chief operating officer of CarbonQuest—the company that built the machines to capture(捕获)the CO2 in the apartment buildings—said, “Time is not on our side, and this type of solution can be cost-effective and without a major destruction.”
The machines cool the CO2 to about-23℃. At that temperature, the gas becomes liquid and can be carried away by trucks to Brooklyn, another area in New York City. There, another company turns the liquid into a solid, The solid CO2 then reacts with calcium to form calcium carbonate(碳酸钙), which goes into concrete, Once the CO2 is in concrete, ‘it will not release into the atmosphere unless the concrete is heated to about 600℃.
However, critics say, “Carbon capture doesn’t actually reduce emissions; it seeks to put them somewhere else.” Critics also worry that it is dangerous to keep large amounts of CO2 below buildings. If too much of the gas is released by accident, it could cause health problems and even death.
But supporters of capturing the CO2 say it is safe. They also argue that boilers and other gas heating systems are probably more dangerous than the machines that capture the CO2.
Under a new state law in New York, many buildings must reduce their emissions. If they do not lower their emissions, the building owners will have to pay a fine. What’s more, to help increase the use of carbon capture machines, the government lowers taxes for owners who put them in their buildings.
1. How do carbon capture machines in New York City work?| A．By heating the carbon dioxide to 600℃. |
| B．By changing the physical state of carbon dioxide. |
| C．By replacing large gas-powered boilers gradually. |
| D．By transporting the carbon dioxide to other cities. |
| A．Their cost. | B．Their occupied area. |
| C．Their safety. | D．Their harm to the environment. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．A Major Crisis of Environmental Pollution |
| B．A Disadvantage of Carbon Capture and Storage |
| C．The Development of a Company Called CarbonQuest |
| D．Carbon Capture Technology for Tall Buildings in New York City |
【推荐2】Flying to another country can sometimes take several days. But the designer of a futuristic jet (喷气式飞机) says his plane could take you around the world in your lunch break.
According to an article in The Sun, the plane, called the Antipode, could carry 10 people and use rocket boosters to go 12 km high.
An ordinary Boeing 747 has a top speed of 917 km/h. The fastest plane in the world right now is Air Force One. It carries the president of the United States and can reach 1,092 km/h.
Canadian designer Charles Bombardier says his plane could be 10 times faster than the Concorde, which could fly at 2,180 km/h. The Concorde was the world’s fastest passenger plane between 1976 and 2003. But the Concorde was very noisy and its nose got dangerously hot when it flew. A Concorde crashed in 2000, killing 114 people.
“It’s always something that people would like a transportation system that could take you from one place on the planet to the other side,” Mr. Bombardier told the BBC.
| A．No Concordes were flown again after 2003. |
| B．There are huge differences between high-speed planes. |
| C．But the Antipode would probably reach a crazy 25,750 km/h! |
| D．Don’t try to buy a ticket for the plane yet, though. |
| E．Then it could fly from London to New York in less than 20 minutes. |
| F．The superfast plane could only carry ten passengers. |
| G．The Antipode’s design includes a special nose. |
【推荐3】Elon Musk, a US tech mogul(大亨), founder of SpaceX and co-founder of electric car maker Tesla, has been working on this technology. On Aug 28, Musk gave a livestream(直播) demonstration of the chip which was implanted into the head of a pig named Gertrude.
The chip, developed by Musk’s company Neuralink, is the size of a coin. But don’t let its size fool you. The tiny chip has over 3,000 electrodes (电极) attached to flexible threads, which can monitor about 1,000 neurons (神经元). It collects neural signals from an area of the brain, and then transmits those signals wirelessly to nearby computers, according to MSN. In the livestream, Gertrude could be seen walking around her pen sniffing (嗅) the ground while a monitor showed her brain activity.
Though the technology is still in its early stage, it is encouraging for humans. “This technology would solve a lot of brain/spine injuries and is ultimately (最终) essential for AI symbiosis (共生), which allows the human brain to mix with an artificial intelligence.” Musk said in previous interviews.
When the device can be applied to humans, its main goal will be to help those who have mobility(行动) issues, such as those suffering from paralysis(瘫痪). Musk hopes this technology could also be used to help those with hearing and eyesight issues and one day lead to a cure for epilepsy(癫痫).
Although such a device could, in principle, repair those problems, putting it into practice is by no means a piece of cake. Currently, the device can transmit signals from about 500 neurons in the pig’s brain. Compared to 80 billion neurons in a human brain, this number is tiny. And to cover the whole human brain also means the electrodes have to be much smaller. Also, implanting the chip into the brain poses a potential danger. There is a risk of the immune system attacking this foreign body.
Right now, the hope of controlling the brain via controlling a few neurons seems overly optimistic. “There are many technological challenges to overcome before Neuralink can put its devices to the purposes,” Yuan Lanfeng, an associate professor of China, told China Daily.
1. What do we know about Elon Musk’s microchip according to the first three paragraphs?| A．It is able to collect wireless signals. | B．It was inspired by sci-fi movie plots. |
| C．It has no more than 1,000 electrodes. | D．It is tiny in size but powerful in function. |
| A．To develop a cure for epilepsy. |
| B．To monitor animals, brain activity. |
| C．To help people who have mobility issues. |
| D．To contribute to the research in AI technologies. |
| A．Potential problems in applying the chip to humans. |
| B．Key differences between pigs’ and humans’ brains. |
| C．How the immune system is the major obstacle to the implant. |
| D．The amount of time and money implanting the chip could cost. |
| A．Excited. | B．Cautious. | C．Optimistic. | D．Worried. |
【推荐1】Basic Steps of CPR Everyone Should Know
Do you know how to offer first aid if a person has an accident and stops breathing but there is no doctor available at hand? Applying CPR is usually helpful when emergencies such as a heart attack occurs. Read this CPR guide now so you know what to do if someone is experiencing a life-threatening (威胁生命) emergency.
Step 1. Position your hands.
Make sure the patient is lying on his back on a firm surface. Kneel beside him and place your hand on the center of the chest. Keep your arms straight, cover the first hand with the other hand and interlock (紧扣) the fingers of both hands together. Keep your fingers raised so they do not touch the patient’s chest.
Step 2. .
Push the breastbone up and down to a depth of about 5 cm about 30 times, at a rate of 100 beats per minute.
Step 3. Give rescue breaths.
Make sure the airway is open, and pinch (捏) the nose so it closes. Gently raise the chin (下巴) upwards with two fingers of your other hand. Take a deep breath, put your mouth over the patient’s, and blow until you can see his chest, rise.Then remove your mouth from the patient’s and look along the chest, watching the chest fall. To get another breath, lift your head and breathe in deeply. Perform Step 3 again.
Step 4. Repeat chest compressions (按压) and rescue breaths.
Repeat the 30 chest compressions followed by the two breaths about five times, and then check for normal breathing. If that person is not breathing normally, continue performing CPR. If breathing restarts as normal, stay with the injured person until help arrives.
First aid is an important life skill that everyone should learn. The more people who learn CPR, the more lives can be saved in the future.
1. We should do CPR at once, when someone ________.| A．suffers an accident and stops breathing |
| B．is hit by a car and can’t move |
| C．is suffering a serious headache |
| D．has a serious bleeding |
| A．Interlock the fingers | B．Open the airway |
| C．Press the chest | D．Start the breath |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．describe the dangerous experience |
| B．encourage people to care for others |
| C．show the damage of a heart attack |
| D．explain the steps to apply CPR |
【推荐2】The Union Jack is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the emblems (象征) of three countries — England, Scotland and Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom).
The term “Union Jack” possibly dates from Queen Anne's time, but its origin is uncertain. It may come from the “Jacket” of the English or Scottish soldiers; or from the name of James Ⅰ who originated the first union in 1603, in either its Latin or French form “Jacobus” or “Jacques”； or as “jack” once meant small, the name may come from a royal proclamation (声明) issued by Charles Ⅱ that the flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, a small flag at the bowsprit (船首).
The Union Jack was originally a royal flag (when the present design was made official in 1801, it was ordered to be flown on all the King's forts and castles, but not elsewhere); today it is flown above Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle when the Queen is not in residence. On news of a royal death, the Union Jack will be flown at half-mast (下半旗).
The flying of the Union Jack on public buildings is decided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at the Queen's command. The Union Jack is flown on government buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the royal family, such as the Queen's official birthday, and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation (休会) of Parliament; it is also flown on St David's Day, St George's Day, St Andrew's Day, and St Patrick's Day.
Although the Union Jack originated as a royal flag, it is now also flown by many people and organizations elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Its use as an emblem has extended beyond the form of a flag and the Union Jack is frequently shown on other objects.
1. The reason why the national flag of the United Kingdom is called the Union Jack is that ________.| A．the flag is made of jacket |
| B．the flag combines the emblems of three countries |
| C．the flag shows the symbol of unity |
| D．the flag originated from the existence of the United Kingdom |
| A．the origin of the national flag |
| B．the history of the national flag |
| C．the reason why the Union Jack has become the national flag |
| D．the way how the Union Jack has become the national flag |
| A．The Union Jack Everywhere |
| B．The Union Jack at Anytime |
| C．National Flag, the Union Jack |
| D．The History of the Union Jack |
【推荐3】No matter which place you decide to visit in Spain, you’ll find a beautiful beach waiting just for you. These popular beaches can meet the needs of people from all walks of life.
Cala de Algaiarens, Minorea
With soft golden sand and clear water, this beach is perfect for snorkeling (浅滩潜水) and visiting underwater caves. The beach belongs to a local man, so tourists have to pay a small entry fee. The waves here can sometimes be huge so the beach isn’t safe for kids.
Cala Tarida, Ibiza
Besides the big music festivals and the exciting nightlife, Ibiza is home to some of the most beautiful beaches; one of them is Cala Tarida. Just relax on the white sand or go swimming in clear water. It is an ideal location to spend a sunny day if you are in Ibiza.
Beach of La Concha, San Sebastian
It has been called the best city beach not just in Spain, but also in Europe. It’s so popular during the holidays that tourists have to struggle to get some space. Even though the beach is a 10- minute walk from the city, the white sand and the amzing clear waters do make the city a new world.
Sotavento, Canary Islands
As an ideal choice for travelers, Sotavento offers 17 miles of white sandy beach. It is blessed with strong water and winds, making it a paradise (天堂) for surfers and kite flyers. The beach also hosts the popular World Kite Surf Championship every August.
1. Why are kids advised not to visit Cala de Algaiarens?| A．Because the beach is too crowded. | B．Because the sand there is too hot. |
| C．Because the beach is a private one. | D．Because the waves are powerful sometimes. |
| A．They can enjoy a music festival. | B．They can go snorkeling. |
| C．They can go surfing. | D．They can fly kites. |
| A．It’s perfect for people to fly kites. | B．It covers a distance of 17 miles. |
| C．The beach is open only in August. | D．The waves are huge and dangerous. |
【推荐1】Four Useful Products for Your Life
Electric Wine Opener
Cost: $19.89
Once you've tried this tool, you'll never go back to the old fashioned kind. This electric wine opener will remove the cork (瓶塞) easily within seconds, and can open up to 30 bottles with a single charge.
Fantastic Ice Cream Spoon
Cost: $14. 99
It’s always disappointing when you're really in the mood for ice cream, but have to wait forever for the ice cream to get to just the right softness. Well, this heated ice cream spoon exactly conducts heat from your hands, and will help soften the ice cream to make it ready to eat right away.
Express Baker
Cost: $58. 99
Making your own bread seems like a quite difficult job. But this baker makes it easier—within an hour. It has 12 different bread settings, and three different crust settings, so you can make bread, pizza and more. A quick look through the reviews shows that customers are pretty happy with it, too.
Corn Stripper
Cost: $7.99
There's no denying that corn on the cob (棒) is delicious But eating corn on the cob and dealing with all the little bits that get stuck in your teeth afterwards is a painful experience. This little device takes all the corns from the cob, by letting you strip (剥) your corn easily, without making a total mess.
1. What can people do with Express Baker?| A．Make some food. | B．Soften food. |
| C．Classify food. | D．Keep food fresh. |
| A．Electric Wine Opener. | B．Fantastic Ice Cream Spoon. |
| C．Express Baker. | D．Corn Stripper. |
| A．They are of the same price. |
| B．They are difficult to operate. |
| C．They make food more delicious to eat. |
| D．They make people's life easier. |
【推荐2】The White House is the most visited residence in the world. Tours may be scheduled through our Washington D.C. office. Due to security and scheduling procedures, there are a few things you should know before requesting a tour:
• Only groups of 10 or more may request a tour.
• Requests must be submitted with a minimum of one month’s advance notice from the date of the tour. Notice of whether your application is accepted will be given 10 days prior to（在…之前） the date requested. All tours, even after they have been confirmed, are subject to cancellation due to security interests.
• Tours are only conducted Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am.
To process your request for a tour, please contact our Washington office at (202) 224-5521 and provide the following information:
• Date(s) requesting.
• Safety information for each person in your party, including: name as it appears on I.D. (I.D. required for ages 14 and up), date of birth, social security number, country of origin, and citizenship.
• A home address and daytime and evening phone numbers for the designated (指派的) leader of the group.
• A contact number while in DC for the designated leader of the group.
After your request is confirmed or denied, our office will contact you with further instructions.
1. This notice is to provide information about ________.| A．scheduling of Washington DC tours |
| B．the safety system of the White House |
| C．application for a tour of the White House |
| D．duties of a tour group leader |
| A．on weekdays only | B．five days a week |
| C．every few days | D．on weekends only |
| A．exactly on the date of application | B．at least 30 days in advance |
| C．any day between Tuesday and Saturday | D．10 days before the date of the tour |
【推荐3】I was standing in the checkout line behind a woman who looked to be in her 60s. When it was her turn to pay, the cashier greeted her by name and asked her how she was doing.
The woman looked down, shook her head and said: “Not so good. My husband just lost his job. The truth is, I don’t know how I’m going to get through these days.” Then she gave the cashier food stamps(食品券).
My heart ached. I wanted to help but didn’t know how. Should I offer to pay for her groceries, or ask for her husband’s resume(简历)?
Walking into the parking lot, I spotted the woman returning her shopping cart. I remembered something in my purse that I thought could help her. It wasn’t a handful of cash or an offer of a job for her husband, but maybe it would make her life better.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice trembling a bit. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said to the cashier. It sounds like you’ re going through a really hard time right now. I’m so sorry. I’d like to give you something. ”
I handed her the small card from my purse. When the woman read the two words “You Matter” on the card, she began to cry. And through her tears, she said: “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
I was a little startled by her reply. Having never done anything like this before, I didn’t know what kind of reaction I might receive. All I could think to say was: “Would it be OK to give you a hug? ”
A few days earlier, one of my workmates gave a similar card to me as encouragement for a project I was working on. When I read the card, I felt a warm glow spread inside of me. Deeply touched, I ordered my own box of “You Matter” cards and started sharing them.
1. What was the woman’s trouble?| A．She lost her job. |
| B．She needed more food stamps. |
| C．She didn’t know how to get through the hard time. |
| D．She didn’t have enough money to pay for her groceries. |
| A．She inspired the woman with a card. |
| B．She bought some food for the woman. |
| C．She gave the woman a handful of money. |
| D．She offered the woman’s husband a better job. |
| A．Moved. | B．Surprised. | C．Pleased. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．You Decide Who You Are | B．Bad Things Will Go Away |
| C．The Help from a Stranger | D．The Power of a Small Card |
