【推荐1】Translation is an essential tool for communication between businesses, between companies and their customers, between organizations, and between countries. The most common way to get a translation done is to go through a translation agency or a translator. But the past few years have seen the appearance of a new type of translators: machine translators. Nowadays a person can point his smartphone at a sign in downtown Japan and a machine translation app will display the text on the sign in English. So, with such advanced technology being created, the question arises, win human translators will be jobless in future?

When talking about Machine Translations we all think of Google Translate first, for one thing, it is the most famous one with more than 500 million users worldwide. It is a huge number compared to human translators: over 330,000 translators internationally which is just 0.0045% of the world population. Google Translate translates 100 billion words per day, that is, 41,666,666 words per hour, in comparison 250 words per hour are translated by professionals. On average human translation of 1 word equals to $0.11, which means that if we gave the job done by Google Translate to professionals they would have daily jobs of 10,000 words which multiplied by $0.11 is $ 1100 a day.

It seems that machine translators have taken the lead in the competition with humans. However, not everything in the garden is rose. Not every language is offered by machine translation tools: while Google's translation gives plenty of languages, what if your required language isn't on the list?

The biggest complaint regarding machine translation is that it may even basically provide a literal, word-for-word translation. The translation, even though it may be comprehensible, will not sound natural at all, will not be well-structured and may not keep the original meaning. In a contest held by a Korean university, Google Translate went up against a group of human translators. Google's translations only scored a 28 out of 60 possible points while the humans scored much better, with a high score of 49 out of 60.

Unlike a machine, when doing translation, a human translator must take into account the style of the source text: context, humor, irony, and idiomatic expressions. Missing the spirit and aesthetic(美学的）character of the source text is less excusable than a few errors in translation of words. Content that is targeted to a specific audience requires a more comprehensive understanding of the messaging. Unlike machines, humans understand when to be literal and when to paraphrase(意译）for their audience.

Machine translating technology is getting better day by day, but it has a long way to go before being perfect. It is likely that in the future human translators will work alongside machine translators and use the software produced translation as an aid or a guide, in order to produce their own translations. But only if we provide improvement.

Will Machine Translation     1    Human Translation?

2    of human translation	Only a small number of people can have     3     to human translators.
	Human are slower than machines in completing Translation.
	Human translation is       4    compared with machine translation.
Challenges facing machine translation	The languages that machine translators can translate are     5    .
	Machine translation may not be     6     with the original meaning.
	Human translators are better in preserving the     7     of the source text than machine translators.
	Machine translators cannot     8     their translation to a   specific audience.
Conclusion	Machine translators may     9     humans with   translation work , but humans need to     10     it up.

【推荐2】When robots and humans interact in the same environment, it is important for them to move in techniques that monitor an environment, predict the future actions of humans, identify secure track for a robot and control its movements accordingly.

Predicting human behavior and movements, however, can be incredibly challenging. Determining the future movements of a robot, on the other hand, could be far easier. If human users could anticipate the movements of robots and the effects these will have on the surrounding environment, they should then be able to easily adapt their actions in order to avoid accidents.

With this in mind, researchers at Kyushu University in Japan recently created a near-future perception system named Previewed Reality that allows human users to forecast future changes in their environment, which could then inform their decisions and guide their actions. This system compiles (编译) a data-set containing information about the position of objects, humans and robots within the same environment, to then produce simulations (模拟) of events that could take place in the near future. These simulations are presented to human users via Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) headsets.

To collect information about the position of different objects, robots, and humans in the same environment, the researchers used a number of strategically placed sensors, including optical trackers that monitored the movements of objects or robots, and a RGB-D camera which mainly tracked human actions. The data gathered by the sensors was then fed to a motion planner and a dynamics simulator. Combining these two system components allowed the researchers to forecast changes in a given environment and synthesize (合成) images of events that are likely to occur in the near future, from the viewpoint of a specific human. Human users could then view these synthesized images simply through a VR headset or an AR display.

“This system provides human-friendly communication between a human and a robotic system.” the researchers explained. In their next studies, they plan to expand and simplify the perception system, for instance by creating a lighter and more affordable version that can operate on smart phones or other portable devices.

1. Why did the researchers develop the system?

A．To predict future changes in human behavior.

B．To record developments in the field of robotics.

C．To enhance safety of human-robot interactions.

D．To make good use of virtual reality technology.

2. What is special about Previewed Reality?

A．It simulates near-future events via VR headsets.

B．It enables human users to perceive future events.

C．It guides robots to track humans’ movements easily.

D．It helps determine the position information of objects.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The functions of the system components.	B．The dynamic way to synthesize images.
C．The inner structure of Previewed Reality.	D．The working procedure of Previewed Reality.

4. What might the researchers do in the future?

A．Promote the new version through advertising.

B．Trial this perception system with smart phones.

C．Make the system accessible on portable devices.

D．Apply some new techniques to robotic systems.

【推荐1】Parks in cities are usually considered as islands of green among seas of concrete and steel. When you approach the High Line on the west side of Manhattan, what you see first is the kind of thing urban parks were created to get away from—a heavy, black steal structure supporting a raised rail line that once brought freight(货运)trains right into factories, and that looks, at least from a distance, more like some abandoned leftover from the past than an urban oasis(绿洲).

That is what the High Line was until recently. But now, it has been turned into one of the most inviting public spaces. The black steel columns now hold up a raised park. Walking on the High Line, you float about eight meters above the ground. You can sit surrounded by carefully tended plantings and take in the sun and the Hudson River views, or you can walk the line as it winds its way between old buildings and striking new ones. I have walked the High Line dozens of times. Different from any street, sidewalk, or park, it never fails to surprise and delight me. The most extraordinary thing about the High Line is the way without streets to cross or traffic lights to wait for, ten blocks pass as quickly as two.

The High Line is a dream come true. The real heroes of the story are Joshua David and Robert Hammond. “I saw an article saying that the High Line was to be destroyed, and I wondered if anyone wanted to save it,” Hammond said. “I saw that it was on the agenda for a community meeting. I went to see what was going on, and there I met David. We were the only people there who wanted to save it.”

“The railroad representatives showed some plans to reuse it, which enraged(激怒)the people who were trying to get it torn down. We couldn’t believe the degree of rage those people had. Hammond and I asked railroad officials to take them to look at the High Line. When we got up there, we saw a mile and a half of wildflowers. New Yorkers always dream of finding open spaces—it’s fantasy when you live in a studio apartment.” David said. And that’s how the project began.

1. What does the underlined word “That” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．An urban oasis.	B．A raised rail
C．A black steel structure.	D．An abandoned leftover.

2. What does the author notice while walking on the High Line?

A．He can always see strange things.

B．The weather seems much better there.

C．New buildings keep being built around it.

D．He can cover more miles in the same amount of time.

3. Why did Hammond go to the community meeting?

A．Because he was the representative of the railroad.

B．Because he went there to accompany his friend David.

C．Because he wanted to see if others would share his views.

D．Because he thought he could persuade people to join in his campaign.

4. How did David feel at the meeting?

A．He was pleased to realize he might succeed.

B．He was encouraged by everyone’s determination.

C．He was worried that their way of life might change.

D．He was surprised by the reactions to the idea proposed.

【推荐2】One of the world’s oldest preserved human settlements has been significantly damaged by pouring rain in Pakistan as the country battles the worst floods in its history.

Moenjodaro, a World Heritage site in the Indus River valley 508 kilometers (316 miles) from Karachi, was built in the Bronze Age, some 5,000 years ago. “Unfortunately we witnessed the mass destruction at the site,” reads a letter from the Cultural, Tourism & Antiquities Department of Singh state sent to UNESCO and signed by director Ihsan Ali Abbasi and architect Naveed Ahmed Sangah. The letter adds the site was being used as temporary accommodation for surrounding residents whose own homes had flooded.

Moenjodaro’s significance can’t be underestimated when it was added to UNESCO’s register in 1980, the organization wrote that Moenjodaro “bears exceptional proof to the Indus civilization,” comprising “the most ancient planned city on the Indian subcontinent”.

The letter explains some of the immediate actions the site team has taken to mitigate the flood damage, like bringing in water pumps and repairing brickwork. But it’s clear that these measures will not be enough.

Abbasi and Sangah ended their letter by asking for 100 million Pakistani rupees ($45 million) to cover the costs of full repairs. UNESCO has responded to the request for help, allocating $350,000 from its emergency fund for damaged historic sites in Pakistan during UN Secretary General António Guterres’s visit to the flood-stricken country this week.

The funds will go to Moenjodaro and other sites including the Amri Museum. While the sum is far less than needed to fully repair the sites, it will pay for urgent work while UNESCO and local organization consider the best way forward. Sadly, the conservators of Moenjodaro have known for some time that flooding could bring a serious risk to the site.

In their letter, Abbasi and Sangah express concern that Moenjodaro could be added to the list of UNESCO sites in danger, which the preservation body updates periodically to highlight historic places that are at severe risk of ruin.

1. What makes Moenjodaro special to Pakistan?

A．The geographic feature it bears.

B．The role it played in fighting floods.

C．The mass destruction it suffered in history.

D．The value it holds in history and architecture.

2. What does the underlined word “mitigate” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Reduce.

B．Suffer.

C．Avoid.

D．Assess.

3. Which best describes the situation of the repair work made so far?

A．Creative.

B．Worrying.

C．Impractical.

D．Satisfactory.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Pakistan’s Deadly Floods Causing Widespread Damage

B．Moenjodaro Calling for Attention to Its Severe Damage

C．Moenjodaro Added to the List of UNESCO Sites in Danger

D．Pakistan UNESCO Site Moenjodaro Badly Damaged by Flooding

【推荐1】The world’s top automakers are increasingly offering more electric vehicle models. This growth is expected to continue, with more people choosing to hit the road with clean-running electric cars.

Environmentalists have praised the automakers for taking major steps to limit harmful pollutants linked to worldwide climate change. But electric vehicles are also known for not producing another kind of pollution - noise. They run on batteries instead of fuel, and can operate in silence.

While many people might consider this a good thing, quiet cars can also cause problems. The main danger is that people around electric vehicles face a greater risk of being hit if they cannot hear the cars coming.

Governments in the United States and Europe have recognized this problem. So, they have set requirements for manufacturers to add warning sounds to electric vehicles.

The U.S.Department of Transportation finalized its rules a year ago. The rules require electric and hybrid (混和能源) vehicles to be equipped with some warning sounds when moving at speeds up to 30 kilometers per hour. The rules are aimed at preventing injuries among people walking or riding bicycles and to protect the blind.

So what kinds of sounds can we expect to hear from the next generation of electric vehicles? One of the easiest solutions would be for carmakers to reproduce the sound a traditional car running on fuel. But many industry officials believe this would be a mistake. They say this would not support the electric vehicle’s true identity.

Frank Welsch, the head of technical development at Volkswagen, said that finding the perfect sound mix is not an easy process. He said. “It cannot be too annoying. It cannot sound like anything we had in the past.”

An official from Mercedes-Benz said the sound was designed to provide a safe warning without annoying passengers inside the vehicle. He said the goal was to create a car that remains completely quiet inside.

It might seem strange to think that part of our automotive future is currently being developed in the same kinds of recording studios used by musicians. But that is exactly what is happening.

1. What’s the main advantages of the electric cars over the traditional cars?

A．Fast and clean.

B．Smart and modern.

C．Inexpensive and fashionable.

D．Limited pollution and no noise.

2. What’s the author’s purpose to write the first two paragraphs?

A．To provide some facts about electric cars.

B．To introduce the topic of the passage.

C．To list the advantages of automobiles.

D．To stress the importance of saving energy.

3. Sounds are added to electric cars to _________.

A．limit pollutants

B．prevent injuries

C．increase sales

D．make cars smarter

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Electric Cars Need Creative Sounds to Replace Engine Noise.

B．Electric Car Sounds Promote Sales to a Large Degree.

C．Recording Studios Will Create Sounds for All Electric cars.

D．Governments Call on People to Design Electric Car Sounds.

【推荐2】Outside the protected areas in India, the number of large carnivores(食肉动物) is increasing,due to the stricter protection of wildlife. It is good news indeed, but at the same time it causes serious problems for management. From time to time, the interactions between people and carnivores result in conflicts. And this issue is particularly serious with leopards.

A group of researchers have studied the interactions between people and leopards in Kamataka, a state in India with more than 90 million people. Leopards can be found in nearly half of the state, so there is a good chance that people and leopards run into each other from time to time.

To gauge the frequency of such interactions, the researchers looked through the media reports from 2013 to 2014 carefully. They found 245 separate incidents in total. Among them, most cases were attacks on livestock or spotting of the leopards by people.

But there are a small number of those incidents that involve injuries or even death of people.According to the researchers, there were 32 attacks on people, causing three deaths. There were also34 leopards died during the study period. Most of their death resulted from hunting and being hit by vehicles. Disappointing it may sound, they found capturing and relocating the animals didn't seem to work out well in reducing their contacts with humans.

So here comes the question: how can the large carnivores and people better coexist?

The researchers believe that it is important to collect more data on where leopards are most likely to be found in populated areas. In this way, people can avoid those big cats effectively. Meanwhile farmers should be paid quickly and fairly for their loss of livestock. People can thus lower the chances of hunting down and killing or moving the offending animal.

1. Which of the following statements best describes the author's attitude towards the in creasing number of large carnivores?

A．Stricter protection of wildlife is the only reason for it

B．Besides the conservation of the animals, there are no other benefits

C．It might present a threat to the harmony between humans and carnivores

D．There is nothing bad about the phenomenon

2. The underlined word "gauge" in paragraph 3 probably means______.

A．to search

B．to gather

C．to plan

D．to determine

3. According to the researchers, which of the following is an effective way to help humans and carnivores coexist?

A．To figure out the possible locations of the carnivores and avoid running into them.

B．To hunt down the offensive carnivores in populated areas.

C．To capture and relocate the animals.

D．To gain data on the frequency of interactions between people and carnivores.

【推荐3】One period of our lives when better results are demanded of us is, strangely enough, childhood. Despite being young we are expected to achieve good grades, stay out of trouble, make friends at school, do well on tests, perform chores (家务事) at home and so on. It’s not easy.

The good news is that being likeable can help a child perform better. Likeable children enjoy many advantages, including the ability to cope more easily with stresses of growing up. In her book Understanding Child Stress, Dr. Carolyn Leonard states that children who are likeable and optimistic are able to gain support from others. This leads to focus and resilience (适应力), the ability to recover from or adjust early to life stress; a child who has adequate emotional armor can continue down the path to success. Much research shows that resilience has enabled children to succeed in school, avoid drug abuse, and develop a healthy self-awareness.

Why does a likeable child more easily handle stress and do better in his or her life? Because likeability helps create what’s known as a positive feedback loop (回馈圈). The positive feelings you want to see in other people are returned to you, creating constant encouragement and motivation, to deal with the daily stress of life.

This feedback loop continues into adulthood. To return once again to the example of teaching, learning becomes easier with a likeable personality. Michael Deluecchi of the University of Hawaii reviewed dozens of studies to determine if likeable teachers received good ratings because of their likeability or because they in fact taught well.Deluecchi found that “students who perceive a teacher as likeable, in contrast to those who do not, may be more attentive to the information that the teacher delivers, and they’ll work harder on assignments, and they will learn more”.

You may have noticed this pattern in your own life when you try to give some advice. The more positive your relationship with that person, the more he or she seems to listen, and the more you feel certain that that person has heard you and intends to act on your words.

1. The writer implies in the first paragraph that ________.

A．children are expected more than we usually think

B．life is not easy for every one of us

C．better education results in smarter children

D．to be a likeable child is almost impossible

2. According to Dr. Leonard, likeable children ________.

A．can cope more easily with stress independently

B．know how to avoid trouble and unpleasant events

C．are always optimistic and ready to help those in need

D．can achieve more and understand themselves better

3. The term “emotional armor” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A．mental support from friends	B．mental support from adults
C．failures in life	D．ability to handle life stress

4. The main purpose of the studies done by Michael Delucchi is to find ________.

A．if a likeable teacher has a positive personality

B．if a likeable teacher draws more attention

C．how a teacher’s likeability gains popularity

D．how a likeable teacher’s teaching style is formed

5. The passage aims at proving that ________.

A．likeable people do better in life generally

B．likeable people do better in their childhood

C．social creatures enjoy fewer advantages

D．likeable people give better advice

【推荐2】

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1. These ads are ________.

A．to sell their products	B．to attract somebody to join them
C．to inform people of some activities	D．to help people improve themselves

2. For a graduate who just finishes college, which ad is most suitable?

A．Ad 1.	B．Ad 2.
C．Ad 3.	D．Ad 4.

3. If you are a boss of a small company focusing on website service, which ad is most attractive to you?

A．Ad 1.	B．Ad 2.
C．Ad 3.	D．Ad 4.

【推荐3】So you think that by staying at home you are safe from all the terrible kinds of pollution present outdoors? Recent research done at the University of Texas has shown that staying indoors may actually be more harmful to one’s health than being outdoors in smoggy cities.

The research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects. These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in such seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house. These additives are released from water by daily actions like water running out of taps, spraying from garden hoses, or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines. As the water is agitated (搅动), these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health harmfully.

Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of candles and incense release a lot of things which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near high density traffic. New rugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell”, which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly-applied paint, newly-purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers and their peripheral (外部设备) release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (空气流通), these chemicals can build up to become health trouble. Their toxic effects are only now being slowly recognized.

These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly-purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise precaution. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather to allow a flushing of stale air. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well as the garage.

Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home”.

1. According to the text, why is the local water supply unsafe?

A．Because it contains harmful chemicals.

B．Because it contains poisonous bacteria.

C．Because the activities of using water are harmful.

D．Because washing dishes makes the water polluted.

2. The underlined word “toxic” in Paragraph 3 is closest to “________” in meaning.

A．long-lasting	B．poisonous
C．obvious	D．immediate

3. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 4?

A．Present more detailed information.	B．Summarize the previous paragraphs.
C．Introduce a new topic for discussion.	D．Give some advice about the problem.

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．Enclosed environment may have potential health risks.

B．Staying indoors is actually less risky than going outside.

C．Home and office windows should be opened at any time.

D．Any use of electronic devices should be banned to prevent pollution.