【推荐1】When Aadeel Akhtar was 7 years old, he met a little girl who changed his life. His parents took him to see family in Pakistan, where they’d been born, and they were walking into a store when he saw her. She was missing her right leg. “That was actually the first time I had met someone with a leg difference,” he says. “She was about my age, using a tree branch as a walking stick, living in poverty.”

He never learned her name, never spoke to her or saw her again. But he never forgot her. Now he is founder and head of an Illinois company called Psyonic. He and his team of about 30 make prosthetic limbs (义肢) that are smart, durable, responsive to their users’ needs and—this is key—affordable. In the U.S., Medicare will cover the cost of Psyonic’s prosthetic limbs, and other insurers will probably follow. It’s estimated that at least 1.6 million Americans live with the loss of a limb, and only 10 percent of those who needed prosthetic limbs in the past could afford them. Medicare’s approval should ultimately increase that to 75 percent.

Psyonic put its first commercial product, called the Ability Hand, on the market nationally in September. In size and design, it is like a natural hand with batteries and electronics packed inside. The fingers come close to copying the movements of human fingers, and they give instant response—the limb shakes when its fingers meet resistance, signaling that if you’re holding something delicate (say, an egg or your child’s hand) you should stop pressing hard. Electrodes (电极) in the base of the hand sense when you tighten existing muscles and use those signals to make the fingers move.

Other prosthetics on the market tend to be expensive (up to $70,000). Akhtar says the Ability Hand costs $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the user’s needs. While much of the hand is made from carbon fiber, many parts use materials which are both cheap and flexible.

1. What might be the reason why Akhtar founded Psyonic?

A．His visit to Pakistan.	B．His parents’ support.
C．His guilt about being poor.	D．Medicare’s approval.

2. What makes Psyonic’s prosthetic limbs different from others?

A．They are smart.

B．They are cheap.

C．They can last long.

D．They can react quickly.

3. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “delicate” in Paragraph 3?

A．Small in size.	B．Difficult to hold.
C．Easily damaged or broken.	D．Extremely soft and smooth.

4. What can be inferred about carbon fiber?

A．It increases the cost.	B．It meets the users’ need.
C．It is getting increasingly popular.	D．It makes the product easy to bend.

【推荐3】Google is getting further into the business of saving lives. The internet giant announces that users of its Android phones in New Zealand will receive warnings of damaging earthquakes about to strike their locations. And those earthquakes will be detected not by the usual seismometers, but by the phones themselves.

Traditional warnings, even if they only come seconds before a quake hits, can buy people enough time to survive the quake. These systems are practical, but they are difficult and expensive to develop. One system, known as ShakeAlert, cost $60 million to build and needs more than $30 million annually to operate. Such an earthquake warning system as developed by Google can cut down this expense and has great potential globally.

A phone-based network makes earthquake detection possible because modern devices are equipped with motion sensors that monitor movement, such as when a user picks up or rotates the phone. Those sensors can also be programmed to detect the distinctive shaking caused by the pressure and waves of earthquakes.

Google has built quake-sensing capabilities directly into its more than 2 billion active Android phones. When a Android phone detects an earthquake signal, it sends word, along with a rough location, to a central server and more than 100 phones need to sound the alarm before Google believes it. Android phones have been publicly detecting earthquakes worldwide since last year and have detected more than 1000 quakes. The warnings have performed well in terms of speed and accuracy when compared with ShakeAlert. Regardless of it, false alarms haven’t been too hard to weed out.

The Android system still has a lot to prove, including its ability to detect quakes that start in less populated regions. New Zealand will pose a particular challenge, because much of its population is gathered in a few cities. That means phones might not warn of a quake that starts far from downtown until after the trembling has already begun. Until the system’s performance is clear, Google should be cautious of promising too much.

1. What can we learn from the text?

A．Traditional earthquake warnings are ineffective.

B．Residents in New Zealand have benefited from the new warning system.

C．Motion sensors are built in Android cellphones.

D．ShakeAlert system cost $90 million in total.

2. Compared to traditional warnings, which is NOT the advantage of Android warning system?

A．Speedier

B．Cheaper

C．More accurate

D．More practical

3. What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4?

A．It is too hard to identify false alarms.	B．Some false warnings are easy to get rid of.
C．False warnings happen frequently.	D．It is impossible to avoid issuing false warnings.

4. What’s the best title of the article?

A．Google’s Effort to Detect Earthquakes	B．Google’s Promise to Save More Lives
C．Google’s New Challenge in New Zealand	D．Google’s Announcement about New Zealand

【推荐2】Elon Musk, a name synonymous with innovation and ambition, has left a permanent mark on the landscape of modern technology. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, he has founded companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and SolarCity, each revolutionizing its respective industry.

In the year 2023, Musk achieved an extraordinary milestone: his space exploration company, SpaceX, successfully launched the first batch of passengers to Mars. This historic achievement not only propelled humanity into a new era of interplanetary travel but also ignited imaginations worldwide, inspiring a new generation of dreamers and explorers.

Beyond his groundbreaking work with SpaceX, Musk’s commitment to sustainable energy has been equally influential. Tesla, under his leadership, has pioneered the development of electric vehicles, pushing the automotive industry towards a greener future. Additionally, SolarCity, founded with the mission of promoting renewable energy, has played a vital role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and combating climate change.

Musk’s relentless pursuit of audacious goals, such as establishing a human colony on Mars and revolutionizing transportation through hyperloop technology, exemplifies the power of visionary thinking. While his ventures have faced challenges and criticisms, Musk’s unwavering determination and resilience have propelled them forward, demonstrating the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

However, Musk’s journey has not been without controversy. His outspoken nature and unusual approach to business have often sparked debate and skepticism. Yet, it is precisely this willingness to challenge the status quo that has allowed Musk to break barriers and achieve the seemingly impossible.

In conclusion, Elon Musk’s story serves as a testament to the transformative potential of human ingenuity and determination. His vision for the future extends far beyond the confines of Earth, encompassing a bold and ambitious vision for humanity’s place in the cosmos. As we look ahead to the years to come, let us draw inspiration from Musk’s example and dare to dream of a brighter, more innovative future for all.

1. Which of the following best describes Elon Musk’s achievements in the field of space exploration?

A．He successfully launched the first human passengers to Mars in 2023.

B．He founded SolarCity with the mission of promoting renewable energy.

C．He pioneered the development of electric vehicles under his leadership at Tesla.

D．He revolutionized transportation through hyperloop technology.

2. What is the main purpose of the second paragraph in the passage?

A．To provide background information on Elon Musk’s achievements.

B．To highlight the significance of Elon Musk’s accomplishments.

C．To discuss the controversies surrounding Elon Musk’s ventures.

D．To explain Elon Musk’s approach to achieving his goals.

3. Based on the passage, what can be inferred about Elon Musk’s character?

A．He tends to avoid controversy and prefers a low-profile approach.

B．He is known for conforming to established norms and practices.

C．He is outspoken and unafraid to challenge the status quo.

D．He is primarily motivated by personal gain rather than societal impact.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Elon Musk’s achievements in space exploration have inspired a new generation of dreamers.

B．Elon Musk’s ventures have faced criticism, but his determination has propelled them forward.

C．Elon Musk’s vision extends beyond Earth, encompassing ambitious goals for humanity’s future.

D．Elon Musk’s commitment to sustainability has revolutionized various industries.

【推荐3】A new finding from Cambridge scientists has shown that an artificial intelligent (AI) system can acquire features of the brains of humans in order to solve tasks.   

“Not only is the brain great at solving complex problems, but it does so while using very little energy. In our new work we show that considering the brains’ problem-solving abilities alongside its goal of spending as few resources as possible can help us understand why brains look like they do, ” said Jascha Achterberg, a scholar at the University of Cambridge.

In a study published in Nature Machine Intelligence, Achterberg and his colleagues created an artificial system intended to model a simplified version of the brain. Instead of real neurons (神经元) in brains, the system used computational nodes(节点).

The researchers gave the system a simple task to complete, where it had to combine multiple pieces of information to decide upon the shortest route to get to the destination. One of the reasons the team chose this particular task is that to complete it, the system needs to maintain a number of elements-start location, end location and intermediate steps-and once it has learned to do the task reliably, it is possible to observe, at different moments in a trial, which nodes are important.

Initially, the system does not know how to complete the task and makes mistakes. But when it is given feedback it gradually learns to get better at the task. The system then repeats the task until eventually it learns to perform it correctly.   

Co-author Professor Duncan Astle said, “This simple task forces artificial systems to produce some quite complicated characteristics. Interestingly, they are characteristics shared by biological systems. I think that tells us something fundamental about why our brains are organised the way they are.” The team also believes their findings are likely to be of interest to the AI community, too, where they could allow for the development of more efficient systems.

1. Which best describes the brains of humans according to the text?

A．Intelligent.

B．Efficient.

C．Adaptive.

D．Imaginative.

2. Why did researchers assign the route-finding task?

A．To require decision-making process.	B．To complete it without any effort.
C．To result in various node sizes.	D．To involve specific procedures.

3. What can we infer about the system from the last two paragraphs?

A．It shows limits of artificial intelligence.

B．It needs human instructions to progress.

C．It performs complicated tasks by learning.

D．It has much in common with human brains.

4. What is the research team’s attitude toward the finding?

A．Cautious.

B．Enthusiastic.

C．Hopeful.

D．Skeptical.

【推荐1】In this room at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, all sound from the outside world is locked out and any sound produced inside is stopped cold. It’s called an ‘anechoic’ (无回声的) chamber (室), because it creates no echo at all. This is the world’s quietest place.

The room offers a very rare experience. “As soon as one enters the room, one immediately feels a strange and unique sensation which is hard to describe,” wrote Hundraj Gopal, a speech and hearing scientist and the principal designer of the anechoic chamber at Microsoft, in an email. “Most people find the absence of sound deafening, feel a sense of fullness in the ears, or some ringing. When you turn your head, you can hear that motion. You can hear yourself breathing and it sounds somewhat loud,” he said. In the real world, Gopal explained, there is always some air pressure on the ear drums. But upon entering the anechoic room this constant air pressure is gone, since there are no sound reflections from the surrounding walls.

Microsoft’s chamber is currently registered in the Guinness World Record as the world’s quietest place, a title it claimed in 2015 at the expense of a similar chamber at Orfield Labs in Minneapolis. But unlike Microsoft’s, that chamber is open to the public, which has turned it into a small tourist attraction.

Despite rumors to the contrary, there is no “world record” for time spent in the chamber constantly by a person, and such challenges are not encouraged, according to Orfield, who constructed his own lab and anechoic chamber. And he has rejected many requests from people who want to “beat the record.”

Anechoic chambers are generally used to test noises and sounds coming from a variety of products with a high degree of scientific reliability. Microsoft uses it for audio equipment such as microphones, receivers, headphones and speakers, or to analyze clicks and hums from computing devices like keyboards, mice, fans and so on. Since the chamber at Orfield Labs is the only officially approved one in an independent lab in the United States, it attracts an even wider range of businesses and products: medical defibrillators, sleep-apnoea machines, hearing aids, heart valves, appliances, automotive parts, computers and hard drives.

1. What can be learned about the anechoic chamber?

A．You can hear your breath clearly in it.

B．One feels strange immediately he goes out of it.

C．Tiny sounds are quieter than they really are in it.

D．The air pressure in the ear drums still exists in it.

2. What is the advantage of Microsoft’s chamber over Orfield’s chamber?

A．It is considered a quieter room.	B．It is officially recognized in the USA.
C．It has become a tourist attraction.	D．It attracts more businesses.

3. What is Orfield’s attitude towards people’s challenge staying in the anechoic room?

A．Doubtful.

B．Favorable.

C．Neutral.

D．Opposed.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Guinness World Record	B．The quietest place, but not relaxing
C．A rare and uncomfortable experience	D．The anechoic chamber of Orfield

【推荐3】A new app promises to help the people in Barcelona find the shadiest way between two places to avoid extreme(极度的)heat. Cool Walks, a tool for walkers, aims to show users a lot of walking ways to take for their destinations. Users can choose the most direct way or a shady way that may take a little longer, which avoids direct sunlight at all costs. Users can also use the app to find places to shelter from the sun.

The app uses a tool called Lidar to create high-resolution(高清晰度的)models of ground elevation(立面图). This information is combined with data on the sun's path to work out where is in shade at any given time of a day.

Although the tool only maps one neighbourhood of Barcelona, it is hoped that the research will provide information on how the city can adapt to extreme heat to protect its people and economy.

Heat waves kill more people than any other climate(气候)risk. According to C40, a climate leadership group made up of 97 cities around the world, extreme heat events in cities can cause death rate to increase by 14%, as well as lower workforce productivity and damage roads and electric wires.

Barcelona is hoping to use green spaces and trees as part of its efforts to relieve global heating. The city's 20-year tree planting plan is aimed to increase the area of land covered by trees from 25% to 30%. Jon Burke, a former expert of Hackney in London, who was responsible for tree planting in the city, said, "I think we should view this particular kind of app as a measure to reduce the influence of extreme heat while cities should focus on city's tree cover."

1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us about the app?

A．Its costs.

B．Its destinations.

C．Its usage.

D．Its designer.

2. What do the people in Barcelona expect the app to do?

A．Develop the economy of the country.	B．Make models of ground elevation clearer.
C．Work out which place is in shade in the daytime.	D．Help deal with the problem of extreme heat.

3. What can we know about extreme heat from the text?

A．It has caused much damage.	B．It helps to set up the group C40.
C．It is the biggest risk for humankind.	D．It has killed 14% of the world's people.

4. What should we do according to Jon Burke?

A．Refuse the app.

B．Plant more trees.

C．Stop extreme heat.

D．Increase the area of land.