【推荐2】For Jaskirat Batra, the desire to take teaching as his career began in his childhood. As a child of teachers, he was often immersed (沉浸在) in the world of classrooms, chalkboards and textbooks. While deeply inspired by his parents, Batra’s desire was always to go beyond traditional teaching methods. As a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, he has established a unique style of teaching that might affect how engineering courses are taught in classrooms.

During his time at Texas A&M University, Batra joined the materials science program there. “I thought that it was the perfect place for me to combine my academic training in engineering science and electrical engineering with my research interest,” Batra said. “I couldn’t wait to jump in and begin my own research project.”

Batra began working on his research project, attending classes and taking exams. However, the turning point came when he was hired to teach an introductory engineering course to undergraduate students. During this time, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the standard slides (幻灯具) based method, particularly because slides, which are 2D surfaces, were used to display complex 3D concepts.

“I knew there has to be a better way to help students visualize in 3D,” Batra said. “I want to develop an instructional strategy that would really help my students to learn and enjoy the process while they are in it.” He started to use 3D cardboard goggles (a kind of glasses) to study students’ motivation when materials science concepts were being taught: He found that when a slides-based lecture was combined with virtual reality, the students’ motivation increased by 77%.

“I always remember what my parents taught me about the power of a pen in shaping society, and the influence of a teacher on the future generations of teachers, scientists, engineers, etc.,” Batra said. “In addition to being an educator, in the future I would love to have my own research lab where I can work with future generations of scientists to make discoveries and solve problems.”

1. What can we know about Jaskirat Batra?

A．He felt bored with school life as a child.

B．He set a goal of being a teacher in college.

C．He taught 3D technology at Texas A&M University.

D．He devoted himself to improving traditional teaching methods.

2. What did Jaskirat Batra think of the materials science program?

A．It was boring.	B．It was creative.
C．It was attractive.	D．It was promising.

3. Why did Jaskirat Batra introduce the 3D-assisted teaching method?

A．To meet practical needs in his teaching.

B．To respond to his students’ advice.

C．To collect data for his research.

D．To improve his teaching skills.

4. What happened after Jaskirat Batra applied the 3D-assisted teaching method to his class?

A．His students’ academic performances were improved.

B．He no longer needed the standard slides-based method.

C．His students’ enthusiasm for his class was increased.

D．He popularized his teaching methods among his colleagues.

【推荐3】It has become common knowledge that our oceans are filled with garbage. Broken objects, used plastic bottles and so on fill our beaches and cover the ocean floor, doing huge damage to ocean creatures. Many individuals and organizations are working to remove this garbage, and recent technological developments have given them a new tool to do so: the trash-eating robot.

Robots of various shapes have been designed to collect garbage that they find floating in the ocean. For example, the French company IADMEEYS has developed what it calls the jellyfishbot. This small robot gathers up everything it meets, including liquid hydrocarbons (碳氢化合物) such as gasoline and oil. The jellyfishbot is remotely controlled and can clean up to 1,000 square meters per hour. The jellyfishbots’ small size and ability to be easily controlled make them ideal for cleaning up crowded areas such as ports.

For larger, more open areas, a much larger robot called the Interceptor has a similar function. Designed for use on rivers, the Interceptor looks like a boat with a conveyor belt (传送带) that picks up trash. Once a sensor indicates that the rubbish bins are full, the Interceptor automatically sends a text message to onshore operators. These operators collect and empty the rubbish bins, sending the garbage to local waste management facilities.

The Interceptor’s name comes from the verb intercept because its purpose is to prevent trash from getting to the ocean. Most of the garbage in the oceans comes down rivers. Cleaning up trash that litters the ocean is good, but to keep the oceans clean, new garbage must be stopped from getting there. Therefore the Interceptor is used to stop pollution before it enters the ocean.

The Interceptor is completely solar-powered and operates on its own, which minimizes the need for human involvement.

Robots are able to clean up large amounts of garbage without humans struggling through beach cleanup by hand. Hopefully, they can be a big part of the solution to ocean pollution.

1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce the background.

B．To set the readers reflecting.

C．To state the writer ‘s intention.

D．To give supporting details.

2. What do the jellyfishbot and the Interceptor have in common?

A．They need no human operation.

B．They can clean up crowded ports.

C．They are both solar-powered.

D．They are controlled in the distance.

3. Which of the following has the same meaning as “intercept” in paragraph 4?

A．Stop.

B．Check.

C．Sort.

D．Collect.

4. What is an advantage of trash-eating robots?

A．They collect all the garbage.

B．They save much human labor.

C．They get rid of water pollution.

D．They empty the rubbish bins.

【推荐2】Here are a few historic sites that are amazing destinations for you to visit on President’s Day.

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, TN

President Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of our country, lasting from 1865 to 1869. During this time he had to work to find methods for reconstructing the country after the Civil War. At this park, Visitors can start their trip at the Visitor Center, move on to the Early Home, from there explore the Homestead and finish the trip at the Cemetery where Andrew Johnson and his family are buried.

First Ladies National Historic Site, Canton, OH

This fantastic National Historic Site is devoted to the lives and influences of the First Ladies of the United States. It is the home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, where visitors can tour the house, see the history of the McKinleys and learn about the role of First Ladies in the White House. And the 1895 City National Bank Building is home to the Education and Research Center today, where visitors can learn about the site with an orientation or by watching a movie in the buildings theatre.

General Grant National Memorial, NY

Also known as Grant’s Tomb, this memorial commemorates the life and presidency of General Grant. Located in Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River this is a beautiful National Memorial. Visitors to Grant’s Tomb can enjoy live concerts, tours and much more within this memorial.

James A. Garfield National Historic Site, OH

James A. Garfield was elected in 1881 and was assassinated just 200 days later. It is located in Ohio and commemorates the life and short presidency of Garfield. And there is a Visitor Center with exhibits on the life of Garfield. In addition, visitors can tour the James A. Garfield Home and enjoy exploring the grounds of this beautiful historic site.

1. What can we do in the First Ladies National Historic Site?

A．We can learn something about the history of McKinleys.

B．We can see some exhibitions about the life of Garfield.

C．We can learn about the role of president Andrew Johnson.

D．We can explore the grounds of the beautiful historic site.

2. If you are interested in the live concerts, where can you go?

A．Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, TN

B．First Ladies National Historic Site, Canton, OH

C．General Grant National Memorial, NY

D．James A. Garfield National Historic Site, OH

3. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A history text.
C．A travel journal.	D．A travel brochure.

【推荐3】See the Exhibitions on View Just for You

Bernd & Hilla Becher

The famous German couple Bernd and Hilla Becher (1931-2007; 1934-2015) changed the course of late 20th-century photography. Working as a rare like-minded and professional couple, they focused on a single subject: the disappearing industrial architecture of Western Europe and North America that fueled the modern time.

Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast

Organized around a single object — the marble sculpture (雕塑) Why Born Enslaved! By French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux — Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast is the first exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art to examine Western sculpture in relation to the histories of Western slavery, colonialism, and empire.

Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color

Ancient Greek and Roman sculpture was once colorful, vividly painted and richly decorated. Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color tells the colorful backstory of polychromy — meaning “many colors” in Greek — and presents new discoveries of surviving ancient color on artworks in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s world-class collection.

Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina

Focusing on the work of African American potters (陶工) in the 19th-century American South — in dialogue with contemporary artistic responses — the exhibition presents approximately 50 objects from Old Edgefield District, South Carolina, a center of stoneware production in the decades before the Civil War.

1. What were Bernd and Hilla Becher?

A．Historians.

B．Architects.

C．Journalists.

D．Photographers.

2. What does Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color focus on?

A．Ancient Greek and Roman sculpture’s colors.

B．The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collections.

C．The background of Greek and Roman sculpture.

D．New discoveries about ancient Greek and Roman.

3. Which exhibition has something to do with American South?

A．Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color.

B．Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina.

C．Bernd & Hilla Becher.

D．Fictions of Emancipation: Carpeaux Recast.