Alibaba Cloud and the Hangzhou city government announced the launch of ET City Brain 2.0, a cloud-powered and AI-driven urban traffic-management system that aims to increase the city’s efficiency.
After over two years of testing in Alibaba’s home base, ET City Brain has become the new infrastructure (基础设施) for Hangzhou, with a total coverage of 420 square kilometers in area, including over 1,300 traffic lights. Over 200 traffic officers are connected via mobile phones, enabling them to receive real-time alerts on any traffic-related emergencies.
In version 2.0, the system will optimize the city’s firefighting abilities by providing key information to firefighters, such as water pressure, the number and position of fire hydrants (消防栓) in a given area, the location of gas pipes and other details they need to know. The information is instant, making the entire firefighting process faster, safer and more accurate.
City Brain gives meaning to data. By using AI and advanced algorithms (计算程序), City Brain is able to analyze a large amount of data and turn them into useful information in real-time speed.
As a result of City Brain’s ability to predict traffic flow, detect accidents and provide instant feedback, Hangzhou has dropped from 5th to the 57th on the list of China’s most congested cities. Hangzhou is probably the only city that can tell you how many cars are on the street at any given time.
In the case of medical emergencies, City Brain is able to change traffic lights, so emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks can head to the scene without interruption, accelerating their arrival time by 49%.
Dr. Wang Jian, head of Alibaba’s Technology Steering Committee who invented the term “City Brain”，said the system is designed to empower a city to act quickly and directly. It is more than just about traffic management. It’s really about how to make city more livable at a time of shrinking natural resources around the globe. “It is a matter of sustainability, while using as little natural resources as possible,” Wang said, “This is just the beginning.”
1. What benefit will ET City Brain bring?| A．Less traffic jam. |
| B．Lower crime rates. |
| C．Efficient government. |
| D．Improved medical care. |
| A．Predicting traffic flow. |
| B．Giving quick feedback. |
| C．Changing traffic lights. |
| D．Handling traffic accidents. |
| A．Practise. | B．Better. |
| C．Operate. | D．Emphasize. |
| A．ET City Brain 2.0 is a mature version. |
| B．Alibaba targets environment-friendly development. |
| C．The government is devoted to improving the system. |
| D．The system can solve the problem of lack of resources. |
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【推荐1】As aging population gets bigger and dementia (老年痴呆症) more common, more families are struggling with a complex question: How do you support a loved one with dementia, especially when you have a full-time job and several kids?
Reg Urbanowski may have an answer to this pressing issue-robots.
He and his team managed to develop a new type of robots named TP robots. Looking like stand-up vacuum cleaners (真空吸尘器) attached to an iPad, they can be activated remotely via a smartphone and guided remotely by a controller app similar to the way a mouse is used on a desktop computer. All possess audio and visual communication capabilities, allowing the operator to be “in the room” to interact with Mom or Dad.
He believes that caregivers and family members can use a TP robot to “look in” on people with mild dementia. He says, “TP robots provide an effective solution for reducing caregivers’ burden, especially for those who have career or other out-of-home activities.”
Urbanowski and his team have carried out a study that involves providing TP robots for 15 Toronto families. These robots are programmed to provide reminders of necessary daily routine like turning off the gas, taking medicine and having dinner. They will also help ensure patients are getting the exercise they need to maintain their health and well-being.
Erin Crawford, Program Director with the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, says she has faith that TP robots will prove beneficial, particularly when it comes to reminding people with dementia to do certain things at certain times. “It means that family members that can’t be there, for whatever reason, know that those things are still happening,” she says.
1. What can we infer about TP robots from Paragraph 3?| A．It’s easy to operate. | B．It can clean the room. |
| C．It’s convenient to carry. | D．It can be used on a computer. |
| A．By having dinner with them. | B．By turning off the gas for them. |
| C．By doing activities with them. | D．By reminding them to take pills. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．TP robots provide a new cure for dementia. |
| B．TP robots help to take care of dementia patients. |
| C．Caregivers of dementia will be replaced by TP robots. |
| D．Urbanowski and his team are developing a new robot. |
【推荐2】The blanket of pollution resulting from carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels is already warming the planet and causing more extreme weather disasters. One way to keep climate change from getting worse is to take some of those historic emissions out of the atmosphere. More than 200 scientists have signed onto a letter pushing for “responsible” research into ways to trap planet-heating carbon dioxide in the world’s oceans.
Oceans already do that for us, absorbing and holding around 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. What if humans could supercharge that ability? That’s what scientists want to better understand, along with any side effects that might come with messing with the chemistry of our oceans.Startups are already developing new technologies to sequester(隔绝)more CO2 in the sea. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about what impact that might have or what strategies might be most successful, the letter says.
These are all pretty early efforts, and hacking the high seas is no replacement for preventing greenhouse gas emissions from accumulating in the atmosphere by getting rid of fossil fuels. Some environmental advocates are also worried about new CO2-filtering technologies harming marine life.
The letter today calls for controlled field trials to evaluate carbon removal strategies, along with a third-party review of the results. There also need to be safety measures in place to address any “unintended or harmful consequences” and inclusive policies to engage different stakeholders(利益相关者).Some big names in climate and environmental sciences have signed on.
“I have seen these massive declines in ocean health...Doing nothing is unethical(不道德的) essentially,” says Débora, Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology department chair at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who signed the letter released today. When it comes to studying new ways to use oceans to tackle climate change, she says,“ We need to at least figure out the risks and the benefits, see whether we can help resolve the problem we have created.”
1. What is the letter aimed at?| A．Preventing carbon dioxide emissions. |
| B．Advocating a fossil-fuel-free lifestyle. |
| C．Promoting the heating of carbon dioxide. |
| D．Pushing for carbon removal technologies. |
| A．The most effective way to trap CO2 has been found. |
| B．Hacking the high seas can replace getting rid of fossil fuels. |
| C．The technology has caused severe side effects messing the oceans. |
| D．New technologies for trapping CO2 in the sea are already available. |
| A．Make polices for target groups. |
| B．Prepare safety measures in advance. |
| C．Review the results from three aspects. |
| D．Evaluate side effects with uncontrolled trials. |
| A．Unclear. |
| B．Approving. |
| C．Dismissive. |
| D．Doubtful. |
【推荐3】Countries around the globe are spending billions of dollars and lots of time on various space missions, whether to Mars or other planets much further away. Some people argue that we should stop wasting time and money exploring space. Instead, we should feed the world’s poor and find immediate solutions to other problems, such as pollution and fatal diseases (致命疾病). However, others feel this is a shallow view which fails to realise how exploring space helps us.
Firstly, exploring space has already made a difference in the fight against world hunger. It has directly resulted in the many satellites that now orbit Earth. A number of the satellites record data on land and weather patterns. Then the data is transmitted (传送) to scientists on Earth. After careful analysis, the scientists can provide useful recommendations and advice for farmers. As a result, space-based science has helped farming in its efforts to grow enough food to feed Earth’s increasing population.
Secondly, space exploration has already promoted technological improvements that benefit us all. High-end products around the world are made to a higher standard now because of advanced technology which was first created to meet the requirements for space exploration. For example, space technologies have helped the research and development of different types of new material. They have also helped companies make better heart monitors and other machines that doctors regularly use. Today, space technologies are widely used in all kinds of industries, and everyday products such as GPS, memory foam pillows (记忆棉枕头), and smartphone cameras are changing our lives.
Finally, sending astronauts into space has helped people to think about the world’s problems and even to find ways to solve them. Seeing pictures of our planet as an island in a black sea made people realise that our planet’s resources are limited. In order to provide for such a rapidly increasing population, scientists are trying to find other planets that could one day be our new home. The greatest attention at present is on Mars because it is closer to Earth. In the future, humans may live on both planets.
In closing, exploring space provides the world with many different benefits. Therefore, it should continue so as to provide new and better solutions to people’s short-term and long-term problems.
1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．propose a definition | B．make a comparison |
| C．reach a conclusion | D．present an argument |
| A．They can collect information of the land and weather changes. |
| B．They can provide useful recommendations for farmers. |
| C．They can fight against world hunger directly. |
| D．They can analyze the data and make suggestions. |
| A．Space exploration no longer requires high-end products. |
| B．High-end products cannot meet the needs of space exploration. |
| C．Our daily life has benefited from the development of space technology. |
| D．The development of new material is a must for space exploration. |
| A．Space exploration has changed the way our planet works. |
| B．Space exploration helps to discover and solve Earth’s problems. |
| C．In the future, all humans may have to move to Mars. |
| D．Resource shortage and population growth are already serious problems. |
| A．To provide guidance on how to carry out space exploration. |
| B．To stress the need of promoting technology. |
| C．To state the importance of exploring space. |
| D．To suggest a way of meeting the requirements for space exploration. |
【推荐1】If you've been dreaming of having an electric car, but can't yet afford to buy one, you can start at a low price, really low. Changli, the world's cheapest electric car, can be ordered online and sent to your door for just $ 930.
Designed and produced by Chinese maker Changzhou Xili Car Industry, Changli, and Changli Nemeca is a small electric car that has got lots of attention online after being advertised as the world's most affordable electric car. Calling this thing a car is kind of stretching it a bit, as its electric motor can only produce 1.16 horsepower, and it has a top speed of only 30. km/h. Still, it does come with some interesting features, like air-conditioning, independent suspension, heater, radio and even reverse-view camera. But the most impressive thing about Changli in my opinion, is that you can have it sent to your doorstep.
Anyone who can just order Changli Nemeca online can have it mailed to them without having to pay extra money to the dealership. Changli measures 2.5 meters long, 1.5 meter wide, and 1.8 meters high, weighs 323 kilograms and can carry up to 30 kilograms.
The two-seat version starts at $ 930($ 1,200 with larger batteries), but you can choose a three-seat version as well, which will cost you $ 1,50. The battery of the small electric car is between 40 and 10 kilometers per charge and the batteries take between 7 and 10 hours to charge.
While Changli Nemeca won't be going head to head with other electric cars anytime soon it's still an amazing piece of machinery for the price. Where else are you going to find full functional electric cars that you can have mailed to your door.
1. Why does the author think Changli electric car is the most impressive?| A．Because of its design. | B．Because it's convenient. |
| C．Because it's light and cheap. | D．Because of its appearance. |
| A．Its producer. | B．Its users. | C．Its production. | D．Its features. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By reasoning. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Uncertain. | D．Hopeless. |
【推荐2】Hugging a dog is one of the life's greatest joys. It is like experiencing a love drug, which is quite true.
Dogs and humans always interact with each other. And if you get to have dogs and hug them every day, you just might live longer than people who don't have to clean animal hair off their clothes, according to a pair of studies recently.
The studies, published in the journal Circulation： Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, suggest that dog ownership is linked to a 21% reduction in the risk of death-over the 12-year period studied-for people with heart disease. When you look at all the evidence around dog ownership and their health, it's pretty clear the signal is real.
We’ve known forever that owning a dog increases one's physical activity. Regardless of weather, you have to get out and walk the dog. Otherwise, you might stay home and watch TV. Owning a dog makes you spend more time outdoors, and time spent outdoors improves health. Owning a dog or interacting with a dog even for a short term also reduces blood pressure. And the biggest advantage of having a dog is what it does for mental health. We see very beneficial effects on depression and anxiety.
Many of us may not have a dog. And these studies have finally convinced someone to get one. We've thought of dogs as a form of comfort. The study forces a rethinking of pets in our society. We've started out with dogs as accomplices during hunts as hunter-gatherers. Gradually, we selected for traits of loyalty and friendship. At this point, many of us can totally see the basic reasons why dogs improve our sense of well-being, reduce loneliness and can be an improvement to our physical and mental health.
1. Who might live longer according to the study?| A．People who hate dogs. | B．People who have dogs. |
| C．People who haven't dogs. | D．People who like bathing pets. |
| A．It can cure heart disease. |
| B．It can help improve health. |
| C．It can make people more energetic. |
| D．It can stop people from getting ill. |
| A．Improving physical health. | B．Enjoying outdoor activities. |
| C．Improving mental health. | D．Strengthening patience and love. |
| A．To show his love of dogs. |
| B．To share his own experience of keeping a dog. |
| C．To introduce a new life style. |
| D．To state the finding of a study about keeping dogs, |
【推荐3】What would the world be like if cars could drive themselves? Imagine(想象) seeing an empty car passing by on its way to pick up its owner, or a car full of passengers who are reading, listening to music or even sleeping. But none of them are worried about the road ahead.
Well, all of this could be the future of driving. There are several companies, including Google, working on driverless cars, which are currently(目前) in the testing stages. If the tests are successful, we could buy an electric, self﹣driven car very soon. But, how is it possible for a car to drive itself?
Cars already have many features allowing them to take over drivers during certain situations. Some features include cars being able to park themselves, or slow down when they detect objects close by. They can also control the speed if there are dangerous conditions, such as snow or slippery (滑的) roads.
Other features have also changed the way drivers react to some situations. Scientists and engineers believe, with the help of wireless signals, cameras and GPS, we are now at a stage where creating a safe self﹣driving car might be possible.
The self﹣driven car may be the answer to lowering the number of deathly accidents caused by careless drivers or dangerous conditions. However, there are still some people who do not like the idea. American lawyer Whit Drake, for example, doesn't believe these cars are safe. He thinks the possibility of the technology making a mistake will be too high.
1. According to the passage, drivers are NOT supposed to ________ in a self﹣driven car.| A．read | B．sleep | C．dance | D．listen to music |
| A．teach | B．replace | C．protect | D．check |
| A．Google has produced and sold self﹣driven cars. |
| B．It is impossible to create a safe self﹣driven car now. |
| C．Self﹣driven cars will go out of control on slippery roads. |
| D．Self﹣driven cars might lower the number of deathly accidents. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Trusty. | C．Negative. | D．Disinterested. |
