【推荐1】Can robots be creative? British art gallery owner Aidan Meller thinks so. He hopes to begin answering that question with a robot called Ai-Da. Meller is watching the building of all Ai-Da’s parts by engineers at Engineered Arts, a company based in Cornwall, England. The engineers believe the robot will be able to make pictures of people from sight with a writing instrument in her hand. Meller wants the robot to perform like a human artist.

After seeing Ai-Da’s head being carefully brought to life by specialists who were connecting individual hairs to form eyebrows, Meller said, “She’s going to actually be drawing and we’re hoping to then build technology for her to paint.” But also as a performing artist, “she’ll be able to communicate with audiences and actually get messages across, asking those questions about technology today,” he added.

Ai-Da’s robotic head may still be separate from her body, but her movements are very alive. Cameras in each of her eyeballs recognize human body parts. Ai-Da will make eye contact and follow you around the room, opening and closing her mouth as you do. If you get too close, the robot will back away, closing and then opening her eyes as if in shock.

The specialists are using the company’s Mesmer lifelike robot technology to create her head. Once finished, Ai-Da will have a mixed-race appearance, with long dark hair and manmade skin. The teeth and skin inside her mouth will come from a 3-D printer. Marcus Hold works at Engineered Arts. He said Mesmer “brings together the development of software mechanics and electronics to produce a lifelike face with lifelike gestures in a small human sized package.”

Ai-Da will make her first public appearance at an exhibition called “Unsecured Futures” at the University of Oxford. Some of her pictures are expected to appear at another show in London later this year.

1. How will Ai-Da do when you get very close to her?

A．Keep still.	B．Step back.
C．Run away.	D．Speak aloud.

2. Which of the following is Ai-Da good at?

A．Taking care of the old.	B．Communicating with persons.
C．Doing housework.	D．Making up like humans.

3. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Ai-Da, a Creative Robot	B．Meller, a Great Engineer
C．Ai-Da Makes Painting Easier	D．Meller Helps Robot Cleverer

【推荐3】For many Americans, regular exercise is a complicated commitment—one made at the beginning of January that fades out within weeks or months. Busy work schedules, a lack of motivation and unease towards exercising in public all contribute to the discouraging statistics that only around a quarter of adults exercise enough per week.

This month, enterptiser Trent Ward and designer Yves Behar are uncovering their design for a mirror fitness system, Forme. Forme is reflective like a mirror, uses machine learning to heighten workouts, and offers attachments including ankle belts, rope handles and a heart rate monitor. When not in use, the two arms that form the resistance pulley (滑轮) system fold behind it and the display screen disappears, turning Forme into a simple full—length mirror.

Interest in home exercise has particularly increased recently around the world. Home workout apps have seen a significant uptick in downloads, and trendy brands like Peloton have rolled out free virtual workouts for everyone stuck indoors. One French athlete who was kept away from others chose to run an entire marathon on his 23-foot balcony.

But beyond the new restrictions affecting daily workout routines, Ward and Behar are tapping into the same concerns that have made every home workout appealing：the ability to save time and sweat in the privacy of one’s home. In an age of personal metrics (衡量标准)--where one can measure their heart rate and sleep cycles with smart watches and train for marathons with AI smart sneakers----Ward and Behar want to improve exercise through machine learning. Forme evaluates performance and adjusts weights accordingly. Easy access to one’s own performance data also makes it easier to track that progress and stay motivated.

Though it’s too soon to tell if mirror gyms will be the trend of the late 2010s to 2020s, Behar explained that having a screen in the home can become the basis for more than just fitness, such as shopping or telemedicine.

1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?.

A．The ways to operate Forme.	B．The features of Forme.
C．The reasons to develop Forme.	D．The theory behind Forme.

2. How can Peloton benefit its users?

A．By offering them online workouts for free.

B．By raising their interest in marathon.

C．By keeping them far away from others.

D．By entertaining them with all kinds of downloads.

3. What makes home workout appealing according to paragraph 4?

A．The better results than outdoor activities.

B．The fresher air at home.

C．The privacy of home.

D．The convenient access to mass data.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Can Forme Have More Powerful Functions?

B．Does Regular Exercise Keep up with New Technology?

C．Is the New Trend of Smart Machines at Home available?

D．Is this AI—Powered "Mirror Gym" the Future of Home Exercise?

【推荐1】My 16-year-old son, Anton, had gone to the local swimming hole. Most of the kids swim there, and there are plenty of rocks for them to use as safe harbors, so I had no fears for his safety.
Still, the firefighter's first words "You need to come up here to the Stillwater River" made me catch my breath, and his follow-up words gave me relief: “ Your son is OK. ”
When I got to the river, I immediately saw the firetruck, ambulance and Anton, wrapped with a towel about his shoulders, sitting quietly on a low platform of the fire engine.
I hurried over to him. "You OK?" I asked.
“Yeah,” was all he said. But my eyes begged for an explanation, I didn't get it from my son, however, who tends to play his cards close to his vest.
The story was this: A woman was being swept under water. Hearing the cries, Anton and his friend Tyler, without hesitation, swam out to her, and brought her safely to shore.
In an age in which the word "hero" is broadcast with abandon and seemingly applied to anyone who make it through the day, I realized the real thing in my son. The teens are stubborn and self-centred, but that didn't mean they have no desire to do good.
Still shocked by my son's daring, I drove him home. Along the way, I tried to dig out some more information from him, but he had precious little to say. The only words he said were, “What's for supper?”
I spent some time alone that evening, thinking about the tragedy that might have been. The next morning, when Anton got up, I half expected him to tell me the story. But all he did was toast some bread, pull himself together, and head for the door to start a new day. Watching from the window, I was reminded that still water often runs deep.
1. Why did the mother allow her son to swim there?

A．He was an excellent swimmer.

B．The water of the river is shallow.

C．He was old enough to swim.

D．The rocks can be of help if there's danger.

2. The underlined part "who tends to play his cards close to his vest" probably means________.

A．Anton is a boy fond of swimming with other kids

B．Anton is unwilling to tell others what he thinks

C．Anton always has a desire to help others

D．Anton seldom changes his mind

3. In the mother's eyes, what her son did was_________.

A．dangerous but interesting	B．meaningful but difficult
C．unexpected and courageous	D．awful and absurd

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

A．My Son, My Hero	B．Anton, A Silent Boy
C．A Good Deed	D．A Proud Mother

【推荐2】Last month, my husband and I completed what some of our friends considered a foolish task: a 32-day, 5, 232-mile camping trip with children in our Volkswagen van, without ''high-tech'' to occupy the children.

It was the screen less journey that showered me with doubts. But is ''boredom'' senseless? My friend Renee, who has driven cross-country with her three kids eight times, calls boredom the mother of creativity. She's not the only one who sees virtue in blank time. In a recently published paper, researchers at East Anglia University in England concluded that the trance like (发呆的) state helps recharge the mind and is ''central to learning and creativity''. I wasn't trying to make my kids smarter. Neither do I dislike high-tech. But I understand too well the power of mini screens to transform our kids into zombies (木讷的人) .

On Day 1, our 7-year-old son announced ''Texas is so boring!''. The next day, struggling against his seat belt, he yelled he couldn't take much more of this. His 5-year-old sister was better at the long hours playing make-believe with the stuffed animals. On Day 3, he began count mountains and see pandas and dolphins in distant clouds in the Texas sky. I often joined the kids in the back, where we did thumb-and-toe wrestle. With well-known mountains ahead, my husband told the children the past legends of them. ''Arizona is not as boring as Texas,'' our son declared.

I hope the trip gave kids some lazy, unstructured time to learn something about valuing the trip instead of looking for the fastest way to burn it up. I don't always make the right call as a parent but I know that in banning the small screen we made the right choice this time.

1. Why did the author choose a high-tech free journey?

A．Her friends are highly against it.

B．She disliked advanced technology.

C．She feared the passive influence of mini-screens.

D．The researchers proved the harm of modern technology.

2. What happened during the cross-country drive?

A．Their son got worse at boredom.

B．Her kids had a tough time riding in the vehicle.

C．Their son relieved himself by watching animals outside.

D．The time spent without screens strengthened the family bond.

3. The underlined part ''the fastest way'' in the last paragraph refers to      .

A．the speediest route to finish the journey

B．the ability to observe the surroundings

C．the interest of playing games with others

D．the choice of killing time by playing digital devices

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Is Driving Long Distances Good for Children?

B．A Touching Cross-country Trip of My Family

C．What's Wrong with Boredom without High-tech?

D．Creative Kids out of Parents' Reasonable Choice

【推荐3】Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl.
One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl(珍珠) necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.
Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand-new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands（差事）.
The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story.
One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid（编辫子）it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling." Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand.
With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet (天鹅绒) box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.
1. Which statement is NOT correct?

A．Jenny loves her father very much.

B．Jenny’s pearl necklace can turn green when it is wet.

C．Jenny has other toys she loves very much besides the necklace.

D．Jenny didn’t want to give up her necklace though she did so.

2. The reason why little Jenny wanted to give her father doll and toy horse is that __________.

A．they were lovely

B．she liked them very much

C．they were worth much more

D．she loved her necklace too much

3. What does the writer mainly want to tell us through the loving story?

A．Whatever you want, you need to earn it yourself.

B．Life is both disappointing and hopeful at the same time.

C．Your parents are always the people who would like to spoil you.

D．Only if you show your real deep love to others, will you get the same in return.

【推荐1】Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit. You may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, but it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of. A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. This happens because the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart, while the crossed legs increase resistance, making the blood even harder to circulate. You won't feel any immediate effects, but don't keep the posture more than 15 minutes. Get up and walk around at least once every hour.

Crossing your legs can also lead to neck and back pain and make your hips in a twisted position, causing one of your pelvic bones to rotate. Since your pelvic bone supports your neck and spine, this can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.

This sitting habit will make your feet and legs get tingly or have the feeling of being asleep, because it causes pressure on the veins and nerves in your legs and feet, leaving numbness and/or temporary paralysis in the legs, ankles, or feet. While the feeling of discomfort may only last a minute or two, repeatedly crossing your legs until they feel numb can cause permanent nerve damage.

So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet planted flat on the floor to save your health in the long run.

1. Where does this text probably come from?

A．Science fiction	B．Children's literature
C．An advertisement	D．A science report

2. Sitting with your legs crossed has influence on your health except______________.

A．feeling comfortable for a long time.

B．making your neck and back painful

C．having your feet and legs get tingly

D．increasing your blood pressure.

3. Which of the following best describes the right sitting habit?

A．sitting with one knee crossed over the other and back straight.

B．sitting with your legs crossed for a long time without any immediate discomfort

C．going to walk around at least once an hour while you are sitting with your both feet on the floor.

D．remaining sitting with your feet planted flat on the floor all day.

【推荐2】Six weeks before his birthday, Giuseppe Paternò achieved the dream of a lifetime: He got a university degree.

Mr. Paternò's graduation has inspired news coverage around the world, partly because of his age. But he has mainly drawn attention because his life story speaks of commitment, a theme that has encouraged as millions of schoolchildren in Italy and elsewhere faces extraordinary uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic.

Born in Palermo in 1923, the first of seven children in a “very poor family,” Mr. Paternò began working soon after finishing elementary school. “The family was large, there was only one paycheck, we were under fascism, and times were tough,” he said.

Eventually, he ended up at a publishing house where an enlightened boss persuaded his father to send him back to school for a three-year vocational degree. Mr. Paternò then worked for an insurance agency while he took private classes to become a telegraph operator. He used skills from the operator job when he was drafted into the navy in World War II. The job also opened doors to the State Railways Company, where he worked for more than four decades.

It was only after he retired, in the mid-1980s, that he returned to his books, taking theology courses through the Archdiocese of Palermo after a chance meeting with a philosophy professor who urged him to follow his love.

Mr. Paterno's son, Ninni Paternò, said that the family had not expected all the attention. “It's unbelievable!” the vounger Paternò said of his father. “He achieved his goal, but he didn't mean to be famous in newspapers around the world.”

University officials are hoping that Mr. Paternò will continue his studies on waster's course. But he isn't so sure. “I have to admit that in this moment, I don't know whether I would do it with the same spirit,” he said on Wednesday. Still, Mr. Paternò said he would probably continue anyway.

1. What's the main reason for the world to report Mr. Paternò's graduation?

A．His experience shows the spirit of commitment.

B．Mr. Paternò achieved his dream at an old age.

C．His graduation ceremony was during the coronavirus pandemic.

D．His achievement is extraordinary.

2. What does the underline word “this job” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Working for an insurance company.

B．Severing in the navy in World War II.

C．A telegraph operator.

D．The job in the State Railway Company.

3. What can we learn about Mr. Paternò's son's words?

A．The family had not agreed Mr. Paternò's decision.

B．Mr. Paternò didn't want to gain the world's attention.

C．Mr. Paternò suffered a lot to achieve his goal.

D．Mr. Paternò's achievement is not worth mentioning.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．It's never too late to achieve a dream.	B．No pains, no gains.
C．Young at heart.	D．Practice makes perfect.

【推荐3】Bradley McConachie, a 33-year-old Australian is actually a student in international relations completing his PhD through Griffith University. He came to Beijing for a cooperative research at Beijing University two years ago. Such an academic life was colorful with a chance offered by the cultural exchanges project, “I'm in China".

Bradley was lucky to win the most "likes" for his photo story about his life in China and became one of 20 winners to visit locations by the project this summer. All the winners’ experiences were filmed to produce a reality show, My Chinese Working Day, which will be broadcast by mid-September.

Bradley was chosen to work as a recreational manager for a Chinese wedding. The film crew took them to many “amazing sites" and the staff at the resort taught them a lot about how to incorporate modern Chinese features while still keeping traditional customs.

“I would have to say two things stick out as the most memorable： the helicopter ride and talking with the staff at the hotel about how they organize weddings here in China," he said. That was Bradley's first time to be in a helicopter, and he was too absorbed with the “stunning" view of the coastline.

“I think it is so important to show other Australians the different landscapes China has to offer. I think so many Australians, when they think about China, imagine the historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things to see in Shanghai but have no idea about other beautiful places, like Sanya or the many other places people have been taken to in this TV series. It was nice to experience these little touches. I was happy to be a part of that experience!” Bradley said.

1. What made Bradley's life more colorful?

A．Obtaining his PhD.

B．The cultural exchanges project.

C．The research about Beijing University.

D．The interest in international relations.

2. Why was Bradley given the chance?

A．He produced the reality show.

B．His life in China was interesting.

C．He was one of the top 20 winners.

D．He liked photo stories most.

3. Which of the following best explains “stunning" in Paragraph 4?

A．Fantastic.	B．Confusing.
C．Agreeable.	D．Extreme.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．It's difficult to produce moving TV series.

B．Beijing and Shanghai are historical sites.

C．Sanya is worth visiting for foreigners.

D．Many Australians know little about China.

【推荐1】Love, success, happiness, family and freedom----how important are these values to you? Here is one interview which explores the fundamental questions in life.

Question: Could you introduce yourself first?
Answer: My name is Misbah, 27 years old. I was born in a war-torn area. Right now I’m a web designer.
Q: What are your great memories?
A: My parents used to take us to hunt birds, climb trees, and play in the fields. For me it was like a holiday because we were going to have fun all day long. Those are my great memories.
Q: Does your childhood mean a lot to you?
A: Yes. As life was very hard, I used to work to help bring money in for the family. I spent my childhood working, with responsibilities beyond my age. However, it taught me to deal with problems all alone. I learnt to be independent.
Q: What changes would you like to make in your life?
A: If I could change something in my life, I’d change it so that my childhood could have taken place in another area. I would have loved to live with my family in freedom. Who cares whether we have much money, or whether we have a beautiful house? It doesn’t matter as long as I can live with my family and we are safe.
Q: How do your get along with your parents?
A: My parents supported me until I came of age(成年). I want to give back what I’ve got. That’s our way. But I am working in another city. My only contact with my parents now is through the phone, but I hate using it. It filters（过滤）out your emotion and leaves your voice only. My deepest feelings should be passed through sight, hearing and touch.
1. In Misbah’s childhood,_________.

A．he was free from worry

B．he liked living in the countryside

C．he often spent holidays with his family

D．he liked going into nature

2. What did Misbah desire most in his childhood?

A．A rich life.

B．Peace and freedom.

C．A beautiful house.

D．Money for his family.

3. How would Misbah prefer to communicate with his parents?

A．By talking to them face to face.

B．By calling them sometimes.

C．By paying yearly visits.

D．By writing them letters.

【推荐2】A new study shows that when teachers participate in a training programme focused on prosocial (亲社会的) classroom behaviour, their students are better able to control their emotions, and that children who can regulate emotions are more likely to be academically successful.

For the study, which appears in Prevention Science, researchers looked at more than 100 teachers and 1,817 students from kindergarten to third grade to see if teachers could support students’ emotional and behavioural growth through the Incredible Years-Teacher Classroom Management (IY-TCM) programme.

The programme uses videos and training sessions, along with role-playing and coaching, to help teachers learn management skills such as using behaviour-specific praise, building positive relationships with students, and considering how to reduce poor behaviour. Teachers in the training group increased interactions with students by 64 per cent compared with 53 per cent for teachers in the control group without the training.

“Emotional regulation is the ability to recognize what behaviour is appropriate in the present situation,” says Wendy Reinke, a professor in the College of Education at the University of Missouri. “For example, a student might have difficulty controlling the feeling of anger if he or she becomes annoyed with another student. But under this programme, the teacher encourages them to move to a different spot in the classroom, effectively teaching them that sometimes stepping away and taking a break is a good way to calm down and manage the feeling.”

After one school year of using the programme in classrooms, students improved their social ability and ability to regulate their emotions. These improvements resulted in an increase in the tests for students in Incredible Years classrooms vs students in control classrooms. And this classroom management approach can help reduce the risk for struggling learners early on, which could help prevent more accumulative support needs in a child’s future.

1. What do the teachers do in the IY-TCM programme?

A．Learn how to identify poor behaviour.

B．Offer the researchers advice on emotional control.

C．Take care of kids from kindergarten to third grade.

D．Apply different ways to learning how to manage kids.

2. What do Wendy Reinke’s words suggest in Para. 4?

A．Now it is hard for students to control their anger.

B．A calm manner is an effective way to handle problems.

C．Few can realize their behaviour is unfit for a situation.

D．The programme will show how to handle troublesome kids.

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Study results of the programme are entirely unexpected.

B．Students in control classrooms can better control their emotions.

C．The programme advances the students’ academic performance.

D．Students change their bad behaviour shortly through the programme.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the training programme?

A．Positive.

B．Negative.

C．Subjective.

D．Indifferent.

【推荐3】One in five women and one in eight men are becoming more tired and less productive, according to a new Australian study on mobile phone use.

Led by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, researchers surveyed 709 mobile phone users across the country aged 18 to 83 and asked them a series of questions based on a similar study 13 years ago. Identifying a phenomenon "technoference (科技干扰)", researchers discovered a significant increase in people blaming their devices for losing sleep, becoming less productive and even getting more aches and pains".

According to the study's lead author Dr Oscar, the issue is so bad that 24 percent of women and 15 percent of men are now considered to be " problematic mobile phone users". "When we talk about technoference, we're referring to the everyday intrusions (侵入)and interruptions that people experience due to mobile phones and their usage," he said. "Our survey found technoference had increased among men and women. For example, self-reports relating to the loss of sleep and productivity showed that these negative outcomes had significantly increased during the last 13 years. This finding suggests that mobile phones are potentially increasingly affecting aspects of daytime functioning due to lack of sleep. "

Compared to a 2005 study, "technoference" issues for 18 to 24-year-old experienced a surprising 40. 9 percent rise, while those aged 25 to 29 also recorded a dramatic increase of 23. 5 percent.

Oscar said that with the number of smartphone users around the world expected to surpass 2. 5 billion before the end of this year, the problem of "technoference" could get even worse. "The speed and depth of smartphone take-up makes our population particularly vulnerable to some of the negative consequences of high mobile phone use." he said. "Rapid technological innovations have led to dramatic changes in today's mobile phone technology, which can improve the quality of life for phone users but also result in some negative outcomes. "

1. How are people affected by technoference according to the text?

A．It makes people addicted to communicating online.

B．It pushes people to work at a fast pace.

C．It causes people to sleep less at night.

D．It brings negative outcomes to people of all ages.

2. Which group are most influenced by smartphones?

A．Young women.	B．Young man
C．Children.	D．Seniors.

3. What does the underlined word "vulnerable" in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Widely spread.	B．Easily hurt.
C．Deeply devoted	D．Absolutely accustomed.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．The increasing side effects of smartphones.

B．Ways to solve technoference problem.

C．Smartphones and people's happiness.

D．The popularity of smartphones.