【推荐1】Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new method that doesn't require any special equipment and works in just minutes to create soft, flexible,3D-prnted robots.

The innovation comes from rethinking the way soft robots are built : instead of figuring out how to add soft materials to a rigid robot body, the UC San Diego researcher started with a soft body and added rigid features to key components. The strictures were inspired by insect exoskeletons,which have both soft and rigid parts — the researchers called their creations

“flexoskeletons (柔性外骨骼）”.The new method allows for the construction of soft components for robots in a small bit of the time previously needed and for a small bit of the cost.

“We hope that these flexoskeletons will lead to the creation of a new class of soft robots, ” said Nick Gravish， a mechanical engineering professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the UC San Diego and the paper ’ s senior author. “ We want to make soft robots easier to build for researchers all over the world. ”

The new method makes it possible to build large groups of flexoskeleton robots with little hand assembly (装配）as well as assemble a library of Lego-like components so that robot parts can be easily swapped.

Researchers detail their work in the April 7 issue of the journal Soft Robotics. The team plans to make their designs available to researchers at other institutions as well as high schools.

One flexoskeleton component takes 10 minutes to print and costs less than $1. Flexokeleton printing can be done on most low-cost commercially available printers. Printing and assembling a whole robot takes under two hours.

The final goal is to create an assembly line that prints whole flexoskeleton robots without any need for hand assembly. These small robots could do as much work as one massive robot on its own — or more.

1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The origin of the new method.

B．The function of the new method.

C．The advantages of the new method.

D．The cost of the new method.

2. What’s Nick’s attitude towards flexoskeletons?

A．Indifferent.	B．Skeptical.
C．Curious.	D．Hopeful.

3. What will researchers intend to do with flexoskeletons?

A．Benefit moss students.

B．Produce a lot of flexoskeleton robots.

C．Build robots by hand.

D．Create many larger ones.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．New Robos Made of Special Equipment and Materials

B．A New Method of Building Giant,Soft and Flexible Robots

C．Flexoskeletons Make Soft Robots Faster and Cheaper to Make

D．Flexoskeletons Create Lots of Soft Robots with Hand Assembly

【推荐3】Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

Are you a media addict who would go mad after two hours without TV,friend requests,exciting online games and your mobile-or would you easily survive？

Recently,university students around the world were asked to volunteer in a global experiment called Unplugged.     1    

Unplugged is being run by Dr. Roman Gerodimos,a lecturer in Communication and Journalism at Bournemouth University. The experiment is now over but he doesn't yet know the full findings.

However,during the experiment,Dr. Gerodimos said there were already signs of how much the exercise affected volunteers.     2    

During their 24-hour ordeal(煎熬),three of the experiment's participants had to endure one intrusion from the media,a BBC reporter plus cameraman who followed them around for the day. They were asked to write down 100 lines about their day offline,but of course,they all waited until the next day when they had access to their laptops.

Elliot Day wrote,     3    . Despite being aware of the social importance of the media,I was surprised by how empty my life felt without the radio or newspaper.”

From Caroline Scott,we read,”I didn't expect it,but being deprived of the media for 24 hours resulted in my day-to-day activities becoming so much harder to carry out than usual…I didn't break out in a cold sweat like our lecturer expected us all to,but it's not something I would like to do again！”

And Charlotte Gay wrote,”I have to say the most difficult item for me to be without has been my mobile;not only is it a social tool,it's my main access point of communication.”

Earlier in the year, a U.K. government study found that in the U.K. people spend about half their waking hours using the media, often trying to know several things at once.     4    .

So, with technology continuing to develop at an alarming rate, how much time will you set aside for sleep in the future?

A．According to experts, U. S. teenagers will suffer both mentally and physically due to their addiction to media devices.

B．Today, my whole morning routine was thrown up into the air.

C．And a recent study by Nielson found that on average, U. S. teenagers send and receive over 3,000 texts per month-that's about six texts per waking hour.

D．Never have I regretted wasting so much time in the social media.

E．It was designed to see how young people would react if they were asked to observe a total media ban by unplugging all forms of media devices for 24 hours.

F．He said, “They're overeating, feeling nervous, isolated and disconnected.”

【推荐1】It's 10:30 pm, and 11-year-old Brandon Blanco is sound asleep at home. Suddenly, a loud noise wakes him up. Naturally, Brandon reaches for his cell phone. The message becomes clear: "R U awake?"

Brandon' s use of technology doesn' t stop there. He also has a computer, a TV and three video-game consoles (控制台 ) in his room. With so many choices, it' s no surprise that when he isn' t at school, he spends nearly every waking minute using one or more of these devices. Brandon is hardly alone. According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids aged 8 to18 are spending more time than ever before using electronic devices. How much time? More than seven and a half hours a day on average, the study found.

The jump is the result of a huge explosion in mobile devices, says Victoria Rideout, the lead author of the study. Today, nearly seven out of ten kids have cell phones. Just five years ago, it was four out of ten.

Often, kids multitask, or use more than one device at a time. " If you’ve got a chance to do something on your computer and take a phone call and have the TV on in the background, why not?" media expert Cheryl Olson says.

Most experts agree technology has much to offer kids. But some worry the kids could be missing out on other activities like playing outside or hanging out with friends. " It' s a matter of balance," says Olson." You’ve got to work on it. "

Multitasking while doing homework is another concern. Some kids listen to music, watch TV or use the phone while doing their homework. "It' s important to make sure that you can stop and concentrate on one thing deeply, " says Rideout.

With new and exciting devices hitting stores every year, keeping technology use in check is more important than ever. " Kids should try," adds Rideout. " But parents might have to step in sometimes. "

1. Why do children spend more time in using electronic devices?

A．Because electronic devices are more exciting than before.

B．Because more electronic devices are available to them.

C．Because they have less other activities.

D．Because they have less homework to do.

2. It is known from the passage that   ____.

A．Brandon Blanco feels very annoyed about his late-night text

B．the teenagers using mobile devices have increased by 30% in the past five years

C．most experts think teenagers should not use electronic devices for their studies

D．Cheryl Olson is not surprised about kids' increasing use of mobile devices

3. Which of the following is an example of multitasking according to the passage?

A．Playing video games on the Internet.

B．Talking on the phone while staying with others.

C．Watching TV while using the computer.

D．Listening to music while relaxing.

4. The underlined phrase "in check" in the last paragraph can be replaced by "____".

A．in order

B．in control

C．in store

D．in sight

【推荐2】Feeding bread to the ducks is a fond pastime for many of us, reminding us of our happy childhood trips to the local park. But did you know that bread actually poses a danger to birds, as well as the environment? Eating it can cause our feathered friends to develop a condition called Angel Wing, which is when too much bread makes birds’ feathers grow too quickly. This additional weight puts a strain on their muscles, causing their wings to twist and drop open, and if not treated fast, they can lose the ability to fly.

“Angel Wing can be remedied if we reach birds before it has developed too severely,” says Caroline Simpson, a trustee of UK charity Swan Lifeline, which has rescued and treated more than 30,000 birds over the last 20 years. “Otherwise the consequence can be awful—such as amputations(截肢)of the wing.” Adult swans can also develop gut and heart disease, so it’s important we do our bit to prevent this by feeding wild birds with the right kind of food.

Bread can also cause harmful changes to the natural ecosystem. Rotting bread at the bottom of   rivers and lakes allows bacteria to breed, spreading disease and attracting rats and other vermin to our waterways. It can result in algal(藻类的)blooms and the presence of a mould(霉菌)called Aspergillus too, which has the potential to kill waterfowl(水禽)and other wildlife if it gets into their lungs.

But this doesn’t mean we have to stop fun trips to feed the ducks. Giving birds the right food-like frozen peas, sweetcorn and lettuce leaves-is good for both them and the environment. So, next time   you visit your local park, take a healthier alternative with you and do your bit to protect our precious wildlife.

1. The underlined word “remedied” in Paragraph 2 probably means .

A．reduced

B．expected

C．caused

D．corrected

2. Which of the following is NOT a consequence of feeding waterfowl with bread?

A．Harmful creatures will be drawn to waterways.

B．Water birds will be overfed and risk losing their bodily functions.

C．The water will be enriched thanks to the nutrients in bread.

D．The eco-balance at the bottom of rivers or lakes will be disturbed.

3. The purpose of writing this passage is to .

A．stop people from feeding waterfowl.

B．instruct people how to raise waterfowl.

C．warn people of the danger threatening waterfowl.

D．promote a safe and healthy way to feed waterfowl.

【推荐3】The traditional Chinese lunar calendar (农历) divides the year into 24 solar terms (节气), which reflect the Chinese people’s understanding of time. Here several special solar terms are listed.

Rain Water

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, the river water defreezes (解冻), wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again. Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in this period. The wet and damp weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen (脾) and stomach according to Chinese medical practice. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.

Awakening of Insects

As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name implies that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities. Modern meteorological (气象) science shows that around this period, the earth becomes wet, the hot humid air from the north is strong and creates frequent winds. For this reason, thunder often occurs.

Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox signals the equal length of the day and night time. On the day of the Spring Equinox, the sun is directly above the equator. After the equinox, the sun moves northwards, resulting in gradually longer day time in the Northern Hemisphere. Standing an egg upright is a popular game during this period. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand, he will have good luck in the future.

Grain Rain

Grain Rain originates from the old saying, “Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains”, which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops and people are busy working on the land. Grain Rain falls between the end of spring and the beginning of summer, with infrequent cold air moving to the south and lingering cold air in the north. With dry soil, an unsteady atmosphere and heavy winds and sandstorms become more frequent.

1. What can we know about Rain Water?

A．River water starts to freeze.

B．Taking off the thick coats is advisable.

C．Lively spring-like scenery can be seen.

D．It falls between the end of spring and the start of summer.

2. What do Awakening of Insects and Grain Rain have in common?

A．Farming season.	B．Animal activities.
C．Air temperature.	D．Frequent thundering.

3. On the day of the Spring Equinox,________

A．the sun moves southwards.	B．the sun is directly above the equator.
C．days are short and nights long.	D．it will bring good luck.

4. In which solar term would people most probably put on masks?

A．Rain Water.	B．Grain Rain.
C．Spring Equinox.	D．Awakening of Insects.

【推荐1】In the field of educational technology, some apps might be getting too smart. There are more and more apps providing help for students.

PhotoMath

The new, seemingly magic app allows users to take pictures of a math problem, and then receive a step-by-step solution. It is now the number one free app on the App Store. A PhotoMath spokeswoman says educators have welcomed the app with positive reviews, but the software causes a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement. Why? It is because students can use it to cheat when doing their math homework.

Price: Free

iHomework

Whether you’re a high school student or a college student, there’s one thing you’ve got for sure: a lot of homework. iHomework can help you keep track of all your homework. It can help you arrange it in a particular order according to types, or based on deadlines.

Price: Free

Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is similar to PhotoMath, but it focuses on older students studying high levels of math and doesn’t support photos. The service also produces step-by-step solutions to advanced topics, making it a popular tool for college students.

Price: $2.99

Homework Helper

Chinese Internet search company Baidu has launched (发起) an app called Homework Helper with which students can get answers to homework. Users post a picture or type their homework questions onto online forums (论坛), and those who answer the questions can win e-coins that can be used to buy devices like iPhones and laptops. The app has logged 5 million downloads, much to the concern of many parents who argue that the students spend less time thinking about challenging problems.

Price: Free

1. What is the problem of the app PhotoMath?

A．It can’t recognize pictures.

B．It doesn’t provide a step-by-step solution.

C．It encourages students to use smartphones.

D．It makes cheating at homework more likely to happen.

2. What is the big feature of Wolfram Alpha?

A．Offering services to office workers.

B．Making students organize their school work.

C．Helping deal with advanced math problems.

D．Creating chances to discuss math online.

3. What do we learn about Homework Helper?

A．It is thought highly of by teachers.

B．It is unpopular among Chinese students.

C．Many parents think it harmful to children’s study.

D．Answering questions on the app wastes students’ time.

【推荐2】Tea, the most typical of English drinks, is a relative latecomer to British shores. Although the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium (一千年) BC in China, it was not until the mid-17th century that the drink first appeared in England. It was the Portuguese and Dutch traders who first imported tea to Europe, reaching the Continent by the way of Venice   around 1560, with regular shipments by 1610.

Curiously, it was the London coffee houses that were responsible for introducing tea to England. One of the first coffee house merchants to offer tea was Thomas Garway. He sold both liquid and dry tea to the public as early as 1657. Three years later he issued a broadsheet advertising tea at £6 to £10 per pound, touting ( 兜 售 ) its virtues at “making the body active and lusty (健壮的)”, and “preserving perfect health until extreme old age”.

Tea gained popularity quickly in the coffee houses, and by 1700 over 500 coffee houses sold it. This distressed the pub owners, as tea cut their sales of beer, and it was bad news for the government, who depended upon a steady stream of revenue (税收) from taxes on liquor sales. By 1750 tea had become the favoured drink of Britain’s lower classes.

A 1676 act taxed tea and required coffee house operators to apply for a license. This was just the start of government attempts to control, or at least, to profit from the popularity of tea in Britain. By the mid-18th century the duty on tea had reached a ridiculous 119 percent. This heavy taxation had the effect of creating a whole new industry — tea smuggling ( 走 私 ). Ships from Holland and Scandinavia brought tea to the British coast, then stood offshore while smugglers met them and unloaded the precious cargo in small vessels. The smugglers, often local fishermen, secretly moved the tea inland through underground passages and hidden paths to special hiding places. One of the best hiding places was in the local church!

Even smuggled tea was expensive, however, and therefore extremely profitable, so many smugglers began to adulterate (掺假) the tea with other substances, such as willow and sloe leaves. Used tea leaves were also redried and added to fresh leaves.

Finally, in 1784 William Pitt the Younger introduced the Commutation Act,   which dropped the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5%, effectively ending smuggling. Adulteration remained a problem, though, until the Food and Drug Act of 1875 brought in severe punishment for the practice.

1. According to the passage, tea drinking _______.

A．is the favorite pastime of the Dutch

B．is an important British tradition

C．was well-received by the Portuguese centuries ago

D．could be found everywhere in the world in 1560

2. Who might be annoyed by the popularity of the tea?

A．Coffee house owners.	B．Wine sellers.
C．Britain’s lower classes.	D．Smugglers.

3. Which of the following statements about tea smuggling is TRUE?

A．Churches provided convenience for smuggling.

B．Fishermen and farmers contributed a lot to tea industry.

C．Underground passages and boats were ideal hiding places for tea.

D．The government encouraged tea smuggling for taxes on tea.

4. How was the order of the tea market finally restored in Britain?

A．By passing an act related to a tax rise.

B．By imposing mild punishment.

C．By punishing those who sold fake tea.

D．By mixing redried used leaves with fresh tea leaves.

【推荐3】Welcome to Skiing Lessons

Skiing is a great way for your children to develop their skiing skills, meet new friends and explore the mountains.Our awesome instructors provide a safe, fun and exciting learning environment that help progress your child to the next stage in their skiing development.

Details

Teaching children,in particular, is a challenging, rewarding and satisfying experience: Children are complex in how they develop, both physically and cognitively: This requires a variety of teaching approaches to meet the needs of all students, all while keeping it safe and fun.Our instructors turn learning objectives into games or tasks that are appropriate to the age and skills of their students.

What to expect

* Learn,explore and have fun YOUR way.

* Enjoy one - to - one lessons that best suit YOUR individual skill levels and styles.

* Explore the mountain with YOUR personal instructor.

Please not

* We accept kids between 3 and 12 years of age(Must be toilet trained)

* Children tend to have very different learning styles from adults , requiring a different lesson structure and approach.

* For safety reasons, children under the age of 8 are allowed only 1:1 or 2:1 lessons.

* Lesson cannot be mixed between skiers and snowboarders.

* We agreed that students participating in a lesson together be similar age and ability.

* Participants must have a suitable travel insurance.

2020-21 SKI LESSONS PRICE

Rider : Instructor	2 hours	4 hours	6 hours
1 or 2: 1	$240	$430	$640
3:1	$290	$510	$800

[Early booking Promotion]

For bookings made by November 15th, a 10% discount will be applied!

1. In which aspect will learners probably benefit most from skiing lessons?

A．Building their bodies.	B．Develeping their strong will.
C．Strengthening their confidence.	D．Progressing their skiing skills.

2. If Jenny aged three wants to sign up for skiing lessons, she should__________

A．know about travel insurance	B．join her brother San aged ten
C．have some skills of toilet	D．understand different learning styles

3. How much will one rider with one , instructor pay if he/ she books a 4- hour lesson on November 16th?

A．$387.

B．$430.

C．$473.

D．$510.

【推荐1】Cycling the Balkans
Duration: 15 days

The Balkans offers a mix of beautiful countryside, fast-developing cities and historic towns. Our first ride ends at the UNESCO town of Ohrid on the vast lake of the same name. There're a few stops along the way to visit or see places of interest.

Cycling the Italian and Swiss Lakes
Duration: 8 days

The Italian lakes of Como and Maggiore are famed for both their wonderful scenery and their wealthy residents (居民). This is a fascinating area to discover on two wheels with excellent roads that closely follow the winding shores. The Villa del Balbianello with its beautiful Italian gardens may look familiar, having been seen in international movies such as Bond's Casino Royale.

Self- Guided Cycling in the Douro Valley
Duration: 7 days

This cycling holiday in the Douro Valley will make you familiar with magical surroundings, delicious cuisine and some of the world's finest wines. The ride begins in Castelo Rodrigo, a village close to where Portugal borders Spain, and home to an ancient castle. You'll cycle through vineyards (葡萄园) and visit the famous Port wine estates (庄园).

Exploring Sri Lanka by Bike
Duration: 8 days

Being an island, Sri Lanka is incredibly diverse. Exploring on two wheels is the best way to see this rural country and to experience the way of life of its friendly people. We travel from ancient cities to the hill country towns of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya before ending the trip on the beaches of the beautiful south coast.

1. What's special about the Balkans tour?

A．It is hosted by the Ohrid goverment.	B．It's a continuous ride with no stops.
C．It has fantastic island scenery.	D．It combines history and the present.

2. Which route would appeal to a movie fan?

A．Cycling the Balkans.	B．Cycling the Italian and Swiss Lakes.
C．Self Guided Cycling in the Douro Valley.	D．Exploring Sri Lanka by Bike.

3. What can you do on the Douro Valley tour?

A．Visit Spanish gardens.	B．Visit a national park.
C．Acquire knowledge of wines.	D．Pick grapes in the vineyards.

【推荐2】High school freshmen always have a lot of questions on their minds. "What can I do when I grow up?" is one of them. It's definitely not too early to start thinking about his tough question. The following tips may help equip you for your future career.

Think beyond grades

Getting good grades in high school is important, but focusing only on straight A's could go wrong. Spending too much time on your schoolwork will leave you little time to explore opportunities outside of the classroom. Extracurricular activities are necessary because they serve as a form of career exploration. They can help you figure out your work preferences, like whether you are a "people person" or prefer to work alone. Nowadays, most well-known colleges care about candidates' experiences as much as their grades.

Seek advice from grown-ups

Talk to your parents, teachers and school counselors about how they started their careers. Even though you're interested in the careers they are in, it would be useful to learn about the process which got them where they are now. If you find your friend's mother doing a worthwhile job by chance, ask her if job shadowing is possible in her company during vacation. After all, seeing a typical day in the position you have an interest in can be an invaluable experience.

Start your search online

If you really have no idea what you can do when you grow up, take online career quizzes to get ideas about what professions naturally match your skills, interests and personality traits. For the time being, you just need to focus on finding a field or two that interests you, rather than a specific career. Chances are you'll change your mind several times before finding a career that you want to stick to. Starting to explore career options now can at least help you decide what your potential major might be.

1. Spending some time taking part in after-school activities can help high school students ________.

A．get A's in all subjects	B．explore their work preferences
C．have access to prestigious universities	D．get along with their classmates

2. Grown-ups may help high school students by _________.

A．starting a business with them	B．teaching them occupational skills
C．sharing their career paths with them	D．providing an opportunity for job shadowing

3. It is suggested that high school students find out their _______ from online career quizzes.

A．possible professions	B．main disadvantages
C．specific occupations	D．ideal majors

4. This article was probably written by a __________.

A．college professor	B．school counselor
C．advertising manager	D．computer programmer

【推荐3】Thanks to its harsh environment, Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for many millennia, allowing a thriving ecosystem to evolve. However, since the 1990s, the last true wilderness on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a new study declares that the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could devastate the area's native bird population.

Humans can infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that the Antarctic animals were immune to the danger due to the continent's extreme weather. However, microbiologist Marta Cerda-Cuellar was not convinced.

She and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves.

The results of their study revealed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste. This included a common strain (品种) of bacteria that causes food poisoning in humans. The researchers say the bacteria strains were resistant to commonly-used human antibiotics, indicating they were brought in by the visitors, rather than migratory birds (候鸟).

“These strains, which are a common cause for infections in humans and livestock, do not usually cause death outbreaks in wild animals," says Gonzalez-Solis. "However, the emerging or invasive pathogens (病原体) that arrive to highly sensitive populations could have severe consequences and cause the local collapse and extinction of some populations." The researcher also fears the presence of these bugs could foreshadow the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of tourists people increases.

Experts believe the only way to prevent the mass destruction of the birds is to impose stricter regulations or, at least, put the ones already in place into effect. For example, while the Antarctica Treaty requires visitors to carry their waste back home to safeguard the pristine environment, the regulation is rarely enforced. Nowadays, some officials are taking steps to save the vulnerable birds before it's too late.

1. What problem is Antarctica facing according to Paragraph 1&2?

A．The increasing number of tourists.	B．The worsening wilderness.
C．The replaced native bird population.	D．The spread of infectious illnesses.

2. What does the underlined word "devastate" mean?

A．Destroy.

B．Increase.

C．Protect.

D．Benefit.

3. Why did the scientists need to catch some Antarctic animals?

A．To treat their illness.	B．To get their waste.
C．To raise them as pets.	D．To study their lifestyles.

4. What did the scientists prove in their study?

A．Bacteria can be killed by human antibiotics.

B．Extreme weather keeps Antarctic animals healthy.

C．Humans bring bacteria to Antarctica.

D．Antarctic animals are immune to human bacteria.

5. What is the author's attitude towards the prospect of bird population in Antarctica?

A．Indifferent.

B．Doubtful.

C．Ambiguous.

D．Optimistic.

6. In what section in a newspaper can you find the passage?

A．Entertainment.

B．Travel.

C．Nature.

D．Education.