A troop of a million walking robots could enable scientific exploration at a microscopic level.
Researchers have developed microscopic robots before, but they weren't able to move by themselves, says Marc Miskin at the University of Pennsylvania. That is partly because of a lack of micrometre-scale actuators（微米级致动器）---components required for movement, such as the bending of a robot's legs.
Miskin and his colleagues overcame this by developing a new type of actuator made of an extremely thin layer of platinum, a very valuable silvery-grey metal. Each robot uses four of these tiny actuators as legs, connected to solar cells on its back that can make the legs bend in response to laser light（激光）and push their square metallic bodies forwards.
“Each solar cell is connected to a specific leg and by shooting the solar cells with a laser, you make the legs move in the way you want,“ says Miskin. "It's really cool.”
Through a process similar to that used in creating circuit（电路）boards, Miskin and his team were able to mass-produce more than a million of the microrobots, each of which could only be seen under a microscope.
The robots are only able to walk around, but Miskin says they provide important evidence of concept, showing that it is possible to develop and mass-produce microrobots with on-board electronics. The next step will be to put additional functions together, he says. "We're developing things where we'll have sensing capabilities and well have programmability.”
He also wants to develop microrobot groups that work together. “There's all sorts of cool stuff that happens when you wind up with a lot of robots working together,“ he says.
In the future, these robots could let us explore the world at a microscopic scale. They could potentially be developed to wander inside the human body. "The hope is that these robots are really going to take us into the micro-world," says Miskin.
1. What is the problem with previous microscopic robots?| A．Their lack of adjustable metal legs. | B．Their wrong way of walking alone. |
| C．Their insensitivity to tiny actuators. | D．Their inability to move automatically. |
| A．Solar cells. | B．Circuit boards. |
| C．A normal metal. | D．Natural sunlight. |
| A．To train an army made of microscopic robots. |
| B．To replace human employees with microscopic robots. |
| C．To change present microscopic robots into smaller ones. |
| D．To mass produce walking microscopic robots with on-board electronics. |
| A．Robots Are Exploring the Micro-world |
| B．An Army of Tiny Robots Are in Concept |
| C．Walking Microscopic Robots Are Created |
| D．Robots Will Walk Inside the Human Body |
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【推荐1】Amid global efforts to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, Chinese scientists and engineers are working on a bright idea — soaking up abundant energy from the sun and then beaming it back to Earth.
Multiple teams in China are currently focused on technologies needed for building and running a space-based solar power facility, which will allow the sun’s energy to be captured nonstop, something that isn’t possible from Earth, said Hou Xinbin, a senior researcher.
After collecting solar energy, the space facility will transform it into electromagnetic radiation, such as microwaves, and laser beams and send it wirelessly back to the Earth’s surface. Receiving stations will, then turn these electromagnetic waves and laser beams into electricity for distribution to power grids (电网).
“As a key step to testing the workability of space-based solar power generation, we want to make and place into orbit a pair of satellites — a large one that will collect solar power and transform it to microwaves and laser beams, and a smaller one responsible for receiving laser beams, Meanwhile, a ground station will be in charge of receiving the microwaves. The two satellites will form an in-orbit testing system for wireless power transfer, ”Hou said.
However, a host of technical issues must be solved before any commercially viable solar power project can take shape in space, Hou said. The challenges include developing high-performance components with acceptable sizes and weights these cannot be too big or too heavy — and integrating them into a satellite; and also ensuring that the power beams reach ground receiving stations with great accuracy, he said.
Hou noted that there is an urgent need in China to develop new sources of clean energy, which are sustainable, affordable and secure, and can be widely used, as China has announced that it aims to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and realize carbon neutrality before 2060. The power generated in this manner will be free of pollution and limitless, and this source of energy could also be used to power any spacecraft within its beaming range.
1. What is the advantage of a space-based solar power facility over an earth-based one?| A．It will capture the sun’s energy continuously. |
| B．It will capture the sun’s energy cheaply. |
| C．It will capture the sun’s energy directly. |
| D．It will capture the sun’s energy conveniently. |
| A．Why the space facility will be built. |
| B．How the space facility will work. |
| C．What parts the space facility will consist of. |
| D．What benefits the space facility will bring. |
| A．The construction of this space facility means a lot in China’s efforts to go green. |
| B．The construction of this space facility will soon become commercially available. |
| C．The construction of this space facility faces both support and protest. |
| D．The construction of this space facility is more of a dream than of a reality. |
| A．China aiming to realize carbon neutrality by promoting clean energy |
| B．China aiming to shine in space-based solar power tech to boost clean energy |
| C．China aiming to take the lead in exploring solar power for clean energy |
| D．China aiming to become a space power by building a space-based facility |
【推荐2】Researchers have been looking forward to using tiny flying robots to settle important tasks. The various machines could be used to help astronauts on space missions, and even to help bees with plant pollination(授粉). However, fitting the heavy electric equipment that is used to power and control the wings into the tiny robot has been challenging. Now thanks to RoboBee X-Wing—the world’s lightest aerial vehicle that can fly not tied to a power source.
Made by Harvard researchers, the insect-inspired robot weighs only 259 milligrams, has four wings whose distance is 3.5 centimeters, and stands 6.5 centimeters high. Its four small wings, which can flap up(拍动) to 170 times a second, are controlled by actuators(驱动器). They become small when the electricity passes through them. Six small solar cells, fitted above the wings to prevent them from disturbing the flight, provide the power.
RoboBee X-Wing is powered by six solar cells. To test its flying abilities, the team, led by doctor Noah Jafferis and PhD student Elizabeth Helbling, exposed the RoboBee X-Wing’s solar cells to LED lighting. To their delight, the tiny robot’s wings began to flap, and it rose, keeping a flight for about half a second. Though the robot lost its flight ability as soon as the power source was turned off, its short flight was cheered for its huge effect on the future of tiny flying robots.
However, though the current RoboBee X-Wing is a step in the right direction, it is not quite ready for main time. The researchers also hope to experiment with other power sources, such as batteries, sun light or radio frequency signals, and to add more advanced “brains” and sensor systems to navigate and complete tasks independently.
1. What can we know about small flying robots according to the first paragraph?| A．They are made to do ordinary tasks by scientists. |
| B．They can be used only for very dangerous task. |
| C．They can be powered directly by the energy of the sun. |
| D．It’s not easy to fit the heavy electric equipment into them. |
| A．Because it is ready for the instant use. |
| B．Because it can take off and fly out of control. |
| C．Because it can fly not tied to a power source. |
| D．Because it can settle important tasks. |
| A．It can’t be used in crowded places. |
| B．It can be used for giving directions. |
| C．It can use radio signals to power itself. |
| D．It still can’t be used widely at present. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Science. |
| C．Education. | D．Health. |
【推荐3】Making eye contact with a robot can be a very strange experience. Scientists even have a name for the teeing: the “uncanny valley”. Now, researchers at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Italy have found that it is more than just a feeling. They ran an experiment that showed how a robot’s gaze can trick people into thinking they are socially interacting with a human being. That experience can slow a person’s ability to make decisions.
“Gaze is an extremely important social signal,” said the lead writer, Professor Agnieszka Wykowska, “The question is whether the robot’s gaze will evoke very similar mechanisms in the human brain as a human’s gaze would.”
The team asked 40 participants to play a video game of “chicken”. Each player had to decide whether to permit a car to run straight toward another car or to turn to avoid a crash. The people played against a human-like robot sitting across from them. During breaks in the game, players had to look at the robot. Sometimes the robot would look back and at other times it would look away. As the interactions happened, the scientists collected data on participants’ behavior and brain activity.
“Our results show the gaze of the robot had an impact on the way humans made decisions and humans’ responses so humans were much slower in making decisions in the game,” Wykowska said. Given that the robot, is designed loosely to copy the shape and appearance of people, it’s not altogether startling perhaps that its gaze can influence people’s attention.
The findings could be useful for deciding where and how human-like robots might be placed. When we understand when and how robots change people’s social behavior, “then we can decide in which sort of context this is desirable and beneficial for humans and in which context this should not occur,” Wykowska said.
1. What does “it” mean in paragraph 1?| A．Making eye contact with a robot. | B．A strange valley. |
| C．The research on robots. | D．A robot’s experience. |
| A．Robots were designed to make decisions to avoid a crash. |
| B．40 people were asked to play against each other. |
| C．Players were not allowed to look at the robot |
| D．Robot gaze could affect people’s decision making abilities. |
| A．Unsurprising. | B．Amazing. |
| C．Disappointing. | D．Threatening. |
| A．To advertise the robot. | B．To introduce a study. |
| C．To stress the importance of eye contact. | D．To show robots’ ability to make decisions. |
【推荐1】Like clockwork, nearly every fourth February includes one extra day. February 29th, also known as Leap Day, isn't exactly a holiday. Instead, it's there to keep your calendar consistent with the earth's rotation around the sun.
According to history, Roman emperor Julius Caesar is the “father" of Leap Year. Until he came along, people had used a 355-day calendar, which was 10. 25 days shorter than the solar year. Roman officials were supposed to add an extra month every now and then to keep the seasons exactly where they should be. But that didn't work out all that well. When special occasions started shifting into different seasons around 45 BCE, Caesar consulted experts and then announced that the Roman empire should use a 12-month, 365-day calendar, which he named after himself. Caesar's Julian calendar included a Leap Day every four years.
Though Leap Day keeps your calendar in line with the earth's rotation around the sun, it causes a different kind of problem for leapsters. When should these February 29th babies celebrate their birthdays during the other three-quarters of their lives? Some party on February 28th, while others prefer a two-day celebration that spans the last day of February and the first day of March.
Leap Day can be a nuisance in the legal system. In 2006, a court in USA was deciding whether criminal John Melo could be set free two days early since his 10-year sentence included two Leap Days. In the case, the judge decided that since the man was sentenced to prison for years, not days. Leap Day didn't make a bit of difference.
Though a few timekeepers have pushed for calendars that don't include Leap Day, almost all experts and societies agree that Leap Day is the best method to keep the calendar on track.
1. Why was Leap Day created?| A．To keep pace with the solar year. | B．To keep track of all the seasons. |
| C．To celebrate special occasions. | D．To honor Emperor Julius Caesar. |
| A．It is sometimes delayed. | B．It lasts at least two days. |
| C．It has to be held every other year. | D．It may take place on different dates. |
| A．Joke. | B．Topic. | C．Trouble. | D．Mistake. |
| A．Leap Day was named after Julius Caesar. |
| B．Leapsters celebrate their birthdays once every four years. |
| C．John Melo benefited from Leap Day. |
| D．People hold different attitudes towards Leap Day. |
【推荐2】China's Yungang Grottoes(石窟) will complete the scanning of all the caves in five years，paving the way for the creation of digital versions that can withstand weathering and other real-world damage.
So far, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi Province has completed three-dimensional scans of one-third of its Buddhist grottoes, according to the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute.“We are racing against time，”said Ning Bo, director of the institute’s digitalization office, “Weathering is like cancer to grottoes, eating away at the sculptures year by year. Few technologies can prevent such progressive damage.”
Using three-dimensional laser(激光) scanning and multiplanar(多平面) reconstruction, the institute is working to capture the shapes, colors and other fine details of the grottoes and create millimeter-level digital archives for future study and preservation. “We hope to preserve the grottoes in digital form as much as possible, so people in the future will still have access to the information even if the grottoes fade away.” Ning said, adding that the digitalization will also allow the public to “visit” the grottoes more easily on their computer screens.
The digitalization project, which began in 2003 at the grottoes, still faces challenges posed by the cave’s enormous sizes, complicated structures and exquisite sculptures, according to the institute. “The Yungang Grottoes were built into a mountain, and so our team is actually scanning structures as huge as a mountain. Besides, the inner structures vary wildly from exotic domes to traditional Chinese architecture.” said the director.
The Yungang Grottoes, located in the city of Datong, has 45 major caves and more than 59,000 stone statues. With a grotto complex stretching about 1 kilometer from east to west, it is one of the largest ancient grottoes in the country.
1. What does Ning Bo mean by saying “racing against time”?| A．He is dying because of a severe disease. |
| B．It is not an easy job to scan the grottoes. |
| C．Scanning the grottoes is an urgent task. |
| D．There is a deadline required by UNESCO. |
| A．To preserve them for future generations. |
| B．To carry out a scientific experiment. |
| C．To keep them from being damaged. |
| D．To capture details of the grottoes. |
| A．The influence of the project. |
| B．The beauty of the grottoes. |
| C．The difficulties facing the team. |
| D．The structures of the statues. |
| A．Education. | B．Culture. |
| C．Technology. | D．Opinion. |
【推荐3】The “mark test” (or “mirror test”) is a way to test animal intelligence — whether an animal can recognize itself, especially animals with large brains. A mark is put on an animal, usually in a spot that can only be seen with a mirror. Then the animal is allowed to look in a mirror. If the animal seems to pay attention to the mark, scientists believe the animal has recognized itself.
But some scientists believe the mark test doesn’t work well for all animals. Roosters (公鸡) are a good example. Scientists at the University of Bonn recently ran the mark test on roosters. They put a pinkish triangle on the chest of the roosters. But when the roosters looked in a mirror, they didn’t seem to notice the mark.
The scientists needed a different way to test whether the roosters could recognize themselves. When there’s danger — like a hawk (鹰) flying above — roosters make loud calls to warn nearby chickens. But roosters only make the cries if other chickens can hear them. If they’re alone, they remain quiet so the hawk won’t see them. The scientists realized that they could use the shadow of a hawk to test if roosters could recognize themselves in a mirror.
First, the scientists let the roosters spend time getting used to being in a closed-in space and having a mirror around. Then, they ran several tests by making a hawk shadow appear above the bird and watching how the rooster reacted.
When there was no mirror, the roosters reacted as usual. They called out when they were near another rooster, but remained quiet when they were alone. But when a rooster was in a space where it could see itself in the mirror, it wasn’t fooled into thinking there was another rooster. It remained silent despite the hawk shadow.
It proves the roosters knew they were seeing themselves in the mirror, and not other roosters. That suggests that the mark test may not be a good test of whether an animal can recognize itself.
The scientists hope their results will encourage other scientists to look for better ways of testing self-recognition in animals.
1. What is the purpose of the “mark test”?| A．To test a bird’s ability to fly. |
| B．To measure an animal’s brain size. |
| C．To see if an animal can recognize itself. |
| D．To compare different animals’ intelligence. |
| A．By testing their eyesight with a mirror. |
| B．By putting a mark on the roosters’ chest. |
| C．By placing two roosters before the mirror. |
| D．By observing their reactions to a hawk shadow, |
| A．Roosters are not intelligent animals. |
| B．The mark test is a reliable measure of self-recognition. |
| C．The mark test may not accurately determine self-recognition. |
| D．Roosters can recognize themselves better than other animals. |
| A．Conducting more experiments on roosters. |
| B．Using the mark test on other bird species. |
| C．Studying self-recognition in dolphins and elephants. |
| D．Searching for better ways to test animal intelligence. |
【推荐1】From the moment you arrive at Houtong Village in northern Taiwan, you’ll have no trouble knowing who the real stars are. There’s a cat-shaped bridge, pet food bowls on the side of the walkways, street signs with cat pictures, cat-themed cafes and, of course, furry friends wandering freely everywhere.
In the early 1900s, Houtong, in New Taipei City, was the biggest and most technologically advanced coal-mining site in Taiwan. It was a prosperous town with about 6,000 residents and workers, before the mine fell into disuse in 1990.
As most young residents moved away for better opportunities, Houtong became a sleepy village with about 100 residents. But in 2010, Houtong gained popularity after a cat-lover and photographer started blogging about the village’s growing stray (无主的) cat population.
Houtong was transformed into a cat-lover sight while also providing a source of income for local villagers. Many of the stray cats, now given affectionate nicknames, are taken care of by local villagers as well as a troop of volunteers.
In addition to the village’s many cute kitty-themed shops and cafes, the local government has also seized the opportunity to highlight its long history.
An award-winning pedestrian cat bridge was built. A cat information and education center opened in 2014, featuring higher cat walkways in front of the building. A museum park dedicated to the town’s former mining life opened in 2010, later hosting a cat lantern festival in 2012.
But Houtong, now under the spotlight, isn’t completely perfect. According to local reports, the town has become an attraction for those looking for a place to abandon their unwanted pets. During the most recent survey, it was estimated that the village is now home to about 286 cats—50 heads more than two years ago.
With the constant patting and feeding from visitors, some also flagged concerns about the health of the furry residents. The department works with local residents and volunteers to vaccinate (接种疫苗) the cats and provide regular medical treatment. Signs have been set up around town advising visitors how to behave while also pleading for the pet owners’ responsibility.
1. Why does Houtong become popular recently?| A．Because it is a town with the biggest coal-mining site. |
| B．Because it is a town with a long history. |
| C．Because it is a town where the mine falls into disuse. |
| D．Because it is a town featuring cats culture. |
| A．Young residents moved far away for better opportunities. |
| B．The development of the village cannot meet the demands. |
| C．There are not enough volunteers in the village. |
| D．The cats are not in good health condition. |
| A．Applying. | B．Begging. |
| C．Fighting. | D．Registering. |
【推荐2】The New York Vegas Hotel has some of the most beautiful and luxurious (豪华的) rooms. Here are four kinds of them.
Park Avenue
This kind of room has about 350 square feet of space. It comes with either a king-size or queen-size bed. The room has the following: a 40-inch television and a good bathroom. The Park Avenue room costs about $65 to $85 per night during weekdays and has a weekend rate of $100 to $110 per night.
Marquis
This Marquis room is up-grade. It provides guests with 700 square feet of space. This up-grade room has a good bathroom, two separate dining areas, and Internet access. There is also a small refrigerator in the room. Guests can stay in this kind of room for about $125 per night.
Players
The Players room comes with two queen-size beds. This room is almost 800 square feet and has a sitting area. The Player room has the following: two 40-inch televisions, a good bathroom, dining and entertainment areas and Internet access. One can stay in the Players room for $155 per night.
Penthouses
This kind of room has about 1,100 square feet of space with a DVD and CD player, coffee pots, and a separate master bedroom. Penthouses rooms have more up-grade amenities (设施). Guests can stay in this room comfortably for $415 per night, and it has a different price in the busy season.
Las Vegas travelers have their choice of one of these hotel rooms. It doesn’t matter which room one chooses because all of them are wonderful!
1. The price of some rooms of the New York Vegas Hotel______.| A．depends on what time of year it is |
| B．is a bit higher during weekdays |
| C．keeps the same all the year round |
| D．changes almost every day |
| A．Park Avenue. | B．Players. |
| C．Marquis. | D．Penthouses. |
| A．The queen once stayed in a Park Avenue room. |
| B．There are two beds in a Players room. |
| C．There is a small refrigerator in every room. |
| D．The New York Vegas Hotel provides guests with free meals. |
| A．introduce the New York Vegas Hotel |
| B．raise funds for the New York Vegas Hotel |
| C．introduce the luxurious amenities of the New York Vegas Hotel |
| D．make some rooms of the New York Vegas Hotel known to readers |
【推荐3】During the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, many world records were broken. They fell in swimming，cycling，running and a number of other sports. How do athletes continue to get better, jump longer，run or swim faster? Although scientists say that athletes have reached their limits（极限）, records continue to fall. In almost every sport athletes have become better since the Olympic movement began.
One reason is that more and more people than ever before have access to sports and exercise. They start at an earlier age and can compete longer in their sports. In schools more and more natural talents can be discovered. Another reason is that athletes can train harder and, as professionals，concentrate wholly on their sports instead of rushing to a training session after their day job. As medicine improves, athletes can stay in competition for a longer time and overcome injuries faster. Technology has also helped improve scores and equipment is getting better. One of the most important factors, however, is the human mind. It lies in our nature to be better and faster than someone else. The will to break a barrier（障碍）can release great power in your body.
So, where are the limits? Some years ago, nobody thought a person could run under 10 seconds in the 100-meter dash. But the record was broken at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. At the moment Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth at 9.58 seconds. Scientists say that 9.48 may be the absolute（绝对的）limit for running such a distance, but, who knows，maybe some runner will one day run under 9 seconds.
1. What does the underlined word “fall” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Change. | B．Increase. |
| C．Drop down. | D．Be broken. |
| A．Training session is popular with athletes. |
| B．People’s will plays a key role in their winning. |
| C．More and more people are interested in sports. |
| D．Athletes are free from injuries because of technology. |
| A．To prove no one can break his record |
| B．To show he is the most successful runner. |
| C．To tell us we won’t know human beings’ limits. |
| D．To explain why a human being can run so fast. |
| A．Have athletes reached their limits? |
| B．Get better，jump longer and run faster |
| C．Why do athletes keep breaking world records? |
| D．Many world records were broken in Olympic Games. |
【推荐1】When Joy Warren’s husband of 50 years passed away, her confidence took a knock. Meeting new people and joining in again socially was a frightening thought. Fortunately, just doors away were friendly neighbours Janet and Michael Porter, who knocked on her door and invited her to join them at a local friendship group event.
And it all started from there, explained Joy, 75, “I’ve never been the type to sit still, so despite the fact that I was still sad for Graham, I knew I had to get out and socialise again, but it was difficult to know where to start. That knock on the door was the encouragement I needed.”
From that first neighbourly invitation, Janet and Michael have been there for Joy, inviting her along to take part in regular Oddfellows social events.
She continued, “They made sure I was never alone for too long, and if I didn’t fancy coming with them, there was never any pressure, just a gentle reminder that they were always there. I joined them at all sorts of group meetings and events, from visiting the local dogs’ home to having a catch up at the monthly coffee morning. I signed up to the Oddfellows as a result of the wonderful new friends I made there.”
Joy also found that after losing her husband, she was alone in making decisions about her home and finances, often struggling with what needed to be done.
She added, “Graham used to take care of all that, so it’s been tough for me to figure out what the right thing to do is sometimes. The Oddfellows was a huge help with this as they have a Citizen’s Advice Line for members, which has got me through some complicated times.”
1. How did Joy Warren feel when Graham left her?| A．She was too sad to see anyone. |
| B．She couldn’t wait to meet new friends. |
| C．She had no idea how to mix with others. |
| D．She felt it easy to handle daily affairs by herself. |
| A．Paying visits to the local nursing home. |
| B．Making decisions about what needed to be done. |
| C．Having a get-together at the weekly coffee morning. |
| D．Participating in Oddfellows activities on a regular basis. |
| A．She worked them out on her own. |
| B．She relied on her children for advice. |
| C．She ignored them and escaped from reality. |
| D．She sought help from Oddfellows’ Citizen’s Advice Line. |
| A．Oddfellows, Colorful Social Events |
| B．Hanging Out With Friendly Neighbors |
| C．A Neighborly Knock To Cure Loneliness |
| D．A Friendly Invitation From Lovely Neighbors |
Wal-Mart exercises its power for just one purpose: to bring the lowest possible prices to its customers. At Wal-Mart, that goal is never reached. The retailer has a clear policy for suppliers: On basic products that don't change, the price Wal-Mart will pay, and will charge shoppers, must drop year after year. But what almost no one outside the world of Wal-Mart and none of its 21,000 suppliers know is the high cost of those low prices. To survive in the face of its pricing demands, makers of everything from bikes to jeans have had to close US plants in favor of obtaining products from abroad.
Indeed, the real story of Wal-Mart, the story that never gets told, is the story of the pressure the biggest retailer constantly applies to its suppliers in the name of bringing us "every day low prices".
The giant retailer' s low prices often come with a high cost. Wal-Mart' s pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line? Of course, US companies have been moving jobs offshore for decades, long before Wal-Mart was a retailing power. But there is no question that the chain is helping accelerate the loss of American jobs to low-wage countries such as Thailand.
People ask, "How can it be bad for things to come into the US cheaply?" Sure, it's great to have bargains. But you can' t buy anything if you' re not employed.
There is no question that Wal-Mart's drive to squeeze out cost has benefited consumers. By now, it is accepted wisdom that Wal-Mart makes the companies it does business with more efficient and focused. Wal-Mart itself is known for continuous improvement in its ability to handle, move, and track goods. It is legendary （传奇） for forcing its suppliers to redesign everything from their packaging to their computer systems. It is also legendary for quite straightforwardly telling them what it will pay for their goods.
1. How do suppliers meet the requirements of Wal-Mart?
| A．To sell even more goods in three months. |
| B．To cut down the employment rate sharply. |
| C．To charge shoppers at a much higher price. |
| D．To run the business in a well-organized way. |
| A．more high-paying jobs |
| B．better designed packages |
| C．bigger profit of its partners |
| D．more jobless American workers |
| A．Still more quality goods will be provided. |
| B．The food you get at Wal-Mart costs least. |
| C．The value of Mal-Mart is over assessed. |
| D．Wal-Mart is a very demanding company. |
| A．The Fortune Wal-Mart Makes |
| B．The Wal-Mart you don't Know |
| C．The Biggest Retailer—Wal-Mart |
| D．The Money Saving Tip in Wal-Mart |
【推荐3】Culture and Cuisine
The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans. But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine (烹饪) and he’s likely to answer, “ McDonalds.” Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I’m afraid you’d get the same answer, or something close to it.
Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine, but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food, the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous―all the same―no matter where you live. True, many Americans are eating more varied foods these days, but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups, and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine.
So what exactly is American cuisine? Well, to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture, meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat, dairy products, pork, beef and poultry. But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World, including potatoes, corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South. The South lost the Civil War, but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions—and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American, which is why we’re pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation. That’s right, grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah. Truth is, they never really left, but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants.
In fact, a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic regionin order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves. Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that, say, Italian cuisine has, but it’s amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times.
1. According to the passage, American cuisine impresses people as being _______.| A．dull and changeless |
| B．rich and various |
| C．popular and delicious |
| D．disagreeable and unpleasant |
| A．cuisines of other countries play a more important role in America |
| B．American cuisine has become increasingly lacking in variety |
| C．American cuisine tends to vary because of immigration |
| D．American cuisine is being changed by foreign cuisines |
| A．were cooked with new materials after the Civil War |
| B．are gaining popularity in the south of America |
| C．were more popular over ten years ago |
| D．are seldom served in restaurants |
| A．Concerned and cautious. |
| B．Hopeless and doubtful. |
| C．Positive and supportive. |
| D．Critical and disapproving. |
