Neuralink has shared a video which appears to show a monkey playing a video game. That’s fairly unusual, but what makes the video even stranger is that the monkey is playing the video game with just its mind. Neuralink is a company owned by Elon Musk, who also owns the car company Tesla and the rocket company Space X. Neuralink is working to develop devices that could allow people to control things using just their brains.
The monkey in the video is called Pager. Pager has two of Neuralink’s special “Link” devices planted in his brain by a surgeon. These devices are connected to 2,048 wires which lead to the parts of Pager’s brain that control movements of the arms and hands.
Scientists taught Pager to play a video game. At first, Pager controlled the video game using a joystick, which is a normal gaming controller. But as Pager played, his Link devices wirelessly sent out information about the signals his brain was using to control his arms and hands. Neuralink’s scientists recorded all of these signals. Then they used computers to match up the signals from Pager’s brain to the movements that his hands were actually doing. This was challenging work and the scientists counted on artificial intelligence(AI) to help them decode(解码) Pager’s brain signals.
Neuralink wants to make it possible for humans who have lost the ability to control their bodies to interact with the world around them. Mr. Musk says that in the near future Neuralink hopes to allow a paralyzed（瘫痪的) person to control a smartphone just by thinking. One day, the system will be able to send this information in a different way, allowing paralyzed people to use their arms or legs again.
1. What does the company Neuralink focus on?| A．The latest style of cars. | B．The manned spacecraft. |
| C．The movements of the monkey. | D．The equipment applied to brain control. |
| A．By relying on artificial intelligence. |
| B．By looking through the brain information. |
| C．By combining the joystick with computers. |
| D．By comparing signals with received information. |
| A．To serve the disabled for a better life. | B．To develop some games for monkeys. |
| C．To learn more about animals’ behaviors. | D．To help the company make more profits. |
| A．Environment. | B．Technology. | C．Discovery. | D．Society. |
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【推荐1】“O gentle sleep!\Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee\That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down.”Henry IV, as portrayed by Shakespeare, would have sympathized with people who struggle with insomnia (失眠). Now a major publisher has come up with a novel idea.
In a project to be launched this week, Penguin Random House has cooperated with the Sleep Council and the Children’s Sleep Charity in creating collections of “Sleep Tales” for adults and children. Combining “cutting-edge technology and the ancient art of storytelling to help solve an age-old problem”, these audiobooks are part soundscape, part descriptive narrative, with softly spoken voices to calm anxieties and take listeners to the land of nod.
Each story lasts about 15 minutes, enabling listeners to set their sleep timer. The stories draw on the Sleep Council’s research into sounds that help people wind down, such as waves lapping on a shore, soft rainfall and birdsong.
Richard Lennon, publisher at Penguin Audio, told the Guardian the project was inspired partly by the realization that increasing numbers of people were listening to audio books “as they’re going to sleep or as part of their bedtime routine”. He said both adults and children respond to something comforting and familiar as they are nodding off.
Asked whether a boring story could have the same effect, he said the stories needed to be “engaging enough not to put you off”: “This is about creating the right environment and headspace for you … to go to sleep. Strangely, if you’re bored, it doesn’t have that effect.” Audience research had been very positive, Lennon said. One listener reported: “The story made my mind stop racing.”
1. Why is the poem mentioned at the beginning of the passage?| A．To introduce the works of Shakespeare. |
| B．To appreciate the rhythm of the poem. |
| C．To lead to the topic of the passage. |
| D．To offer an example of people with insomnia. |
| A．Their target readers are children. |
| B．Every story is long and interesting. |
| C．They are read vividly in different tones. |
| D．They can make listeners sleepy. |
| A．Not many people prefer listening to audio books before sleep. |
| B．A boring story is more likely to make people sleepy. |
| C．The environment is very important for reading stories. |
| D．The audio books prove effective in helping people sleep in the research. |
| A．Releasing audio books to send listeners to sleep |
| B．The new trend of people’s reading habit |
| C．Audio books are becoming more and more popular |
| D．Ways to help people sleep easily |
【推荐2】Today, roller skating(滑旱冰) is easy and fun. But many years ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1745, people never tried skating on wheels. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making instruments(工具). In his free time, he liked to play the violin. Merlin was a man with many ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day, Merlin received an invitation to go to an important party. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think. He wanted to make a wonderful entrance at the party. Merlin had an idea. He thought that he would attract a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll(滚动). Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skate shoes. Merlin was very proud of them. He dreamed of arriving at the party and skating into the room while playing the violin. He was sure that everyone would be very surprised.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room, playing his violin. Everyone was really surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skating. He rolled on, playing the violin. Then, with all eyes on him, Merlin hit into a huge mirror on the wall. The mirror broke into many pieces with a very loud noise.
Nobody forget Merlin’s wonderful entrance after that.
1. What kind of a person was Joseph Merlin?| A．He was a man without any friends. |
| B．He was a man with lots of money. |
| C．He was a man with many ideas and dreams. |
| D．He was a man in a wheelchair. |
| A．His work. | B．His violin. |
| C．A huge mirror. | D．An important party. |
| A．He couldn’t stop his roller-skating. |
| B．He couldn’t attract a lot of attention. |
| C．He couldn’t make everyone remember him. |
| D．He couldn’t play the violin while rolling. |
【推荐3】Craig Blackburn, a father and car fan, built a Batmobile for his son’s hope for using the vehicle to brighten the lives of sick children. And now he hopes to use it for more than just his son’s hope after seeing the children’s reaction to the Batmobile.
Based on the number of failures he had seen in car groups, he estimated that only about one in 50 attempted constructions was actually finished and he realized what an incredible opportunity he had.
Mr. Blackburn started the project at the beginning of 2018 after hearing a friend in the US was doing the same thing. It started with importing an outer shell overseas, before picking brains of a friend who had a background as a worker in a car factory to gain knowledge of how to build the car. With the help of his friend, Mr. Blackburn built the Batmobile in 18 months with the cost reaching six figures.
Mr. Blackburn hoped to add a flamethrower onto the back of the vehicle and said he had thought about building the more recent Batman Tumbler from the series film Dark Knight. Though Mr. Blackburn encountered plenty of difficulties to get over during the construction, in September 2019, the car made its first show at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba, before being used by Blackburn’s son for his hope.
“It was great. It was so good to see the kids’ and adults’ excitement at seeing the Batmobile.” Mr. Blackburn said. As a result, the car lovers hope to make the car work on the roads as soon as possible, so he can visit sick children and take them out with his son.
1. What is Craig Blackburn’s initial purpose of constructing the Batmobile?| A．To realise his son’s dream. |
| B．To donate it to sick children. |
| C．To pay his respects to the film Dark Knight. |
| D．To show off at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba. |
| A．By making an outer shell for him. |
| B．By offering him financial support. |
| C．By sharing the knowledge of building cars. |
| D．By telling him the background of the car factory. |
| A．It will be put to practical use soon. |
| B．It can be displayed around the world. |
| C．It can change the lives of sick children. |
| D．It will appear in the next film about Batman. |
【推荐1】Our Products and Services
Model 3Model 3 is a four-door mid-size sedan (轿车) that we designed with a base price for mass-market appeal, which we began delivering in July 2017. We currently build Model 3 at the Fremont Factory as well as at Gigafactory Shanghai. We currently offer Model 3 in Rear-wheel Drive (后轮驱动) and Dual Motor All-wheel Drive versions.
Model YModel Y is a sport utility vehicle (“SUV”) built on the Model 3 platform with the ability for seating for up to seven adults. We currently build Model Y at the Fremont Factory, and are further raising production there and making preparations for production next at Gigafactory Shanghai. We currently offer Model Y in some Dual Motor All-wheel Drive versions.
Model S and Model XModel S is a four-door full-size sedan that we began delivering in June 2012. Like Model 3, it introduced Tesla vehicle most basic features such as a large touchscreen driver interface, Auto-driving hardware, over-the-air software updates, and fast charging through our Supercharger network.
Model X is a mid-size SUV with seating for up to seven adults, which we began delivering in September 2015. Model X introduced features including unique falcon (鹰) wing doors for easy access to passenger seating and an all-glass panoramic (全景的) windshield (挡风玻璃).
Model S and Model X are equipped with a standard Dual Motor All-wheel Drive powertrain, and are also available in Performance versions. We build Model S and Model X at the Fremont Factory.
1. What can we know about Model 3 and Model S?| A．They are both a SUV. | B．They both have Rear-wheel Drive. |
| C．They both have Auto-driving hardware | D．Neither of them can be fast charged. |
| A．Model 3. | B．Model Y. | C．Model S. | D．Model X. |
| A．Dual Motor All-wheel Drive. | B．Falcon wing doors. |
| C．Having a factory in Shanghai. | D．Seating for up to seven people. |
【推荐2】In the ground below a tall New York City apartment building, several machines collect carbon dioxide(CO2)from large gas-powered boilers which help heat the building but also release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Nearly 70 percent of New York City’s large buildings have steam boilers that run on natural gas or oil. Big buildings in New York City release about two-thirds of the city’s emissions(排放). New York state’s buildings also release more air pollution than any other state.
Brian Asparro, chief operating officer of CarbonQuest—the company that built the machines to capture(捕获)the CO2 in the apartment buildings—said, “Time is not on our side, and this type of solution can be cost-effective and without a major destruction.”
The machines cool the CO2 to about-23℃. At that temperature, the gas becomes liquid and can be carried away by trucks to Brooklyn, another area in New York City. There, another company turns the liquid into a solid, The solid CO2 then reacts with calcium to form calcium carbonate(碳酸钙), which goes into concrete, Once the CO2 is in concrete, ‘it will not release into the atmosphere unless the concrete is heated to about 600℃.
However, critics say, “Carbon capture doesn’t actually reduce emissions; it seeks to put them somewhere else.” Critics also worry that it is dangerous to keep large amounts of CO2 below buildings. If too much of the gas is released by accident, it could cause health problems and even death.
But supporters of capturing the CO2 say it is safe. They also argue that boilers and other gas heating systems are probably more dangerous than the machines that capture the CO2.
Under a new state law in New York, many buildings must reduce their emissions. If they do not lower their emissions, the building owners will have to pay a fine. What’s more, to help increase the use of carbon capture machines, the government lowers taxes for owners who put them in their buildings.
1. How do carbon capture machines in New York City work?| A．By heating the carbon dioxide to 600℃. |
| B．By changing the physical state of carbon dioxide. |
| C．By replacing large gas-powered boilers gradually. |
| D．By transporting the carbon dioxide to other cities. |
| A．Their cost. | B．Their occupied area. |
| C．Their safety. | D．Their harm to the environment. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．A Major Crisis of Environmental Pollution |
| B．A Disadvantage of Carbon Capture and Storage |
| C．The Development of a Company Called CarbonQuest |
| D．Carbon Capture Technology for Tall Buildings in New York City |
【推荐3】If you walk through the doors of one of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums in Washington, D.C., you may be greeted by an unusual guide. A Japanese tech company recently sent 25 humanoid robots to the Smithsonian. All of them are named Pepper.
Each Pepper stands 4 feet tall and has a computer screen attached to its body. Built by SoftBank Robotics, the robots are programmed to share information about the museum in which they are based.
“Pepper is basically an experiment,” Goslins, director of the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Museum, said. “The idea is to explore and see how a robot performs in this kind of environment.”
Museum visitors communicating with Pepper. The robot can tell stories and answer basic questions. People even take pictures and dance with it.
“The robot draws big crowds,” said Allison Peck, director of marketing at the Hirshhorn. “People just love Pepper.”
According to the Smithsonian Institution’s website: “Pepper gives our museum workers a new way to reach and serve visitors.” For example, Pepper teaches Swahili words to visitors of the “World on the Horizon” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.
Pepper also has the special ability to draw guests to less-visited areas of the Smithsonian’s museum. When Pepper is placed in a spot, crowds are attracted to that place.
When not educating museum visitors, Pepper stays in the Smithsonian offices, getting charged and programmed. After being charged, Pepper can run for about 8 hours at a time.
Pepper plays an important role, but the robot“ is not meant to take away human jobs at the museum, ” Goslins explained. “It is meant to give our visitors a more enjoyable experience while they are here with us.”
1. What do you know about Pepper?| A．It measures 4 feet in width. | B．It serves as a guide. |
| C．It is named after a robot. | D．It is made in the US. |
| A．Draw pictures. | B．Take pictures. |
| C．Ask questions. | D．Tell stories. |
| A．Reasonable cost. | B．Pepper’s appearance. |
| C．Workers’service. | D．Attractive scenery. |
| A．To please visitors. | B．To replace humans. |
| C．To perform programs. | D．To educate visitors |
【推荐1】A new device works like a solar panel, except that it doesn't harvest energy from the sun. It absorbs energy from the cold night sky.
A prototype(原型）of the device produced enough electricity at nigh to power a small light bulb. A bigger version might one day light rooms or charge phones. It also could power electronics in remote or low-resource areas that lack electricity.
The device makes use of the temperature difference between Earth and outer apace. It then uses that difference to create electricity. As long as one side of it is cooler than the other, the generator can produce electricity. The cooler side faces the sky and is attached to an aluminum plate. That plate is sealed beneath a transparent cover and surrounded with insulation(隔热材料）to keep out heat. The bottom of the generator is attached to an exposed aluminum plate. That plate is warmed by the local air. At night, the top plate can get a couple of degrees Celsius cooler than the bottom of the generator.
Researcher tested a 20-centimeler prototype one clear December night in Stanford, California. The generator produced up to about 25 milliwatts of power per square meter of device. That was enough power to light small light-emitting diode, or LED bulb. Further improvements might increase its production to at least 500 milliwatts per square meter. To do that, the system might need more insulation around the cool top plate.
The device also could help power remote weather stations or other environmental devices, says Aaswath Raman. He is a materials scientist who worked on the device at the University of Califomia, Los Angeles. This may be useful in polar regions that don’t see sunlight for months at a time, Raman says. “If you have some low-power load and you need to power it through three months of darkness, this might be a way.”
1. What can we know about the new device?| A．It gains energy from the sun. | B．It’s been widely used in life. |
| C．It is cooler than a solar panel. | D．It’ll be popular in special areas. |
| A．By putting more insulation around the top plate. |
| B．By using it in extremely cold and clear nights. |
| C．By attaching the bottom plate to a warm plate. |
| D．By covering the top plate with a transparent lid. |
| A．A Device Using the Cold Night Sky to Produce Electricity |
| B．A Device Bringing New Hope for Those in the Cold Night |
| C．The Difference Between a Solar Panel and a New Device |
| D．The Temperature Difference Between Earth and Outer Space |
【推荐2】"What kind of rubbish are you?" This question has brought about complaints over the past months in Shanghai. On July 1st, 2019, the city introduced strict trash-sorting rules. Residents must divide this waste into four separate groups and throw it into specific public bins.
Shanghai is faced with an obvious environmental problem. It produces 9 million tons of rubbish a year, and the number is rising quickly. Like other cities in China, it has relied on trash pickers to pick out whatever can be reused. But as people get wealthier, fewer of them want to do such dirty work. The waste, meanwhile, just keeps piling up.
Many people appear to be bothered by the rules. Rubbish must be divided according to whether it is food, recyclable, dry or hazardous （有害的）, the differences among which can be complex and confusing. Some have complained that they must put food waste straight in the required public bin, forcing them to tear open plastic bags and throw it by hand. Most annoying is the short scheduled time for throwing trash, typically a couple of hours, morning and evening. This means that people all go at the same time and anyone can keep an eye on what is being thrown out; no one wants to look bad.
People who fail obey the rules could be hit with fines of up to 200 yuan. For repetitive violators, the city can add black marks to their credit records, making it harder for them to get bank loans or even buy train tickets. However, citizens support the idea of recycling in general and say a tough campaign is necessary. "Slowly people will get used to it," says Li Chongjin of Fudan University.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To amuse the readers with a question |
| B．To introduce a hot topic about trash dividing |
| C．To present a social problem in Shanghai |
| D．To offer a way to deal with the complaints |
| A．trash-pickers | B．waste-throwers |
| C．law-makers | D．rule-breakers |
| A．Being forced to keep plastic bags open. |
| B．Being required to tell different kinds of rubbish apart |
| C．Being seriously punished for improper behavior |
| D．Being asked to throw trash at the short scheduled time. |
| A．Hopeful | B．Dissatisfied. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Uncaring |
【推荐3】One of the interesting things about China is that they love lists. There are sorts of things through Chinese history that are in list form, such as the Four Great Beauties the Seven Warring States, and the Three Kingdoms. It should come as no surprise that there is such a thing as the Four Great Inventions.
There are literally hundreds of inventions that were originally invented in China before they were introduced anywhere else. However, the Four Great Inventions in particular stands out as having greatly changed not just Chinese civilization, but the entire world.
However, what makes the Four Great Inventions such an odd list for China is that the list was created by someone British.The Four Great Inventions was actually invented by British historian and sinologist Joseph Needham. He spent much of his life travelling in China, collecting and documenting examples of Chinese inventions and technology. He published his first book on Chinese culture in 1954 where he listed many Chinese inventions which were originally thought to be European inventions.
In the 16* century, there was a version floating around called the Three Great Inventions which contributed to the greatness of Europe, or more specifically sometimes Germany. It might have been created by English philosopher Francis Bacon: the printing press, gunpowder, and the compass.
As explorers began more frequently visiting China, they realized that all of those great inventions had been around in China for centuries before they appeared in Europe.So, as part of his work and setting the record straight, Needham created the Four Great Inventions of China, a list that has subsequently gained widespread approval from scholars in China itself.
The four great inventions are the three listed before: the printing press, gunpowder, the compass, and the other being paper-making.
1. What does paragraph 1 serve as?| A．A plot. | B．A lead-in. |
| C．A clue. | D．A conclusion. |
| A．An expert studying Chinese culture. |
| B．A publisher trying to sell books. |
| C．An explorer searching for treasures. |
| D．A businessman trading with the Chinese. |
| A．Joseph Needham published books to list Chinese landscapes. |
| B．Francis Bacon was the first to create the Four Great Inventions. |
| C．The Four Great Inventions changed Europe, especially Germany. |
| D．Ancient China contributed to scientific development worldwide. |
| A．Who really comes up with the Four Great Inventions? |
| B．How do the Four Great Inventions change the world? |
| C．What makes the Four Great Inventions well accepted? |
| D．Why are the Four Great Inventions important to Europe? |
