【推荐1】Given a choice, would Three Little Robots being chased by a big bad wolf A) build successively more wolf-resistant houses or B) kill the wolf with their nail gun? If you chose B), you're probably a robot who hasn't yet met Quixote, a learning system that teaches robots how not to kill by using fairy tales.

While Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Bill Gates try to scare us with tales of robots killing humans, a team of researchers at Georgia Institute of' Technology is scaring robots by using fairy tales to teach them how to make proper decisions when faced with real-world dilemmas while lacking a moral （道德的）compass. They suggest robots can be taught moral behavior using books. Reading fairy tales or story books can help them learn what is good and bad and how to behave well in a society.

“Fables（寓言）from various cultures can provide artificial intelligence with social skills and role models essential to the peaceful coexistence of men and robots, "scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology claim in a new study.

According to researchers, to make a robot understand the actions of a human it must first turned the moral lessons contained in fables -into a specifically designed architecture of reasoning, compatible with artificial intelligence.

An early example of this reasoning is a system called "Quixote." named for the leading character of Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel. Quixote uses fable plots to give machine intelligence guidance for moral problem-solving and, depending on what deeds characters engage in, the system sends either reward or punishment signals, causing robots to act more humanely, researchers suggest.

The function of Quixote is dependent upon another system called "Scheherazade", a previous project started by the same team.   Scheherazade collects different story plots from Internet and develops interactive stories.   Those stories are then turned into decision flow-charts, providing a "huge number of branching paths" following every step taken.

Quixote is in the early development stage, according to researchers, noting that it works currently with robots that interact with humans in only a very small range of function.

1. What can we infer from paragraph 1?

A．Robots are afraid of wolves.	B．Robots are fond of fairy tales.
C．Robots are advancing.	D．Robots are constantly given choices.

2. What would probably happen if a tested robot chose to cut in line in public places?

A．It would be punished by Scheherazade.	B．It would apologize.
C．It would reason with human beings.	D．It would be rebuilt.

3. Which of the following best describes the function of Quixote?

A．Quixote makes fables meaningful to A. I.	B．Quixote gives robots intelligence.
C．Quixote collects stories from Internet.	D．Quixote is an independent system.

【推荐1】It was in the archives(档案室) of the Archbishop of York that Matthew Collins had a sudden insight: He was surrounded by millions of animal skins.

Another person might say they were surrounded by books and manuscripts written on parchment, which is made from skins, usually of cows and sheep. Collins, however, had been trying to make sense of animal—bone fragments from archaeological digs, and he began to think about the advantages of studying animal skins, already cut into rectangles and arranged neatly on a shelf. Archaeologists consider themselves lucky to get a few dozen samples, and here were millions of skins just sitting there.

In recent years, archaeologists and historians have awakened to the potential of ancient DNA extracted from human bones and teeth. DNA evidence has enriched—and complicated—stories of prehistoric human migrations. It has provided clues to epidemics such as the black death. It has identified the remains of King Richard III, found under a parking lot. But Collins isn't just interested in human remains. He’s interested in the things these humans made; the animals they bred, slaughtered, and ate; and the economies they created.

That’s why he was studying DNA from the bones of livestock—and why his lab is now at the forefront of studying DNA from objects such as parchment and beeswax. These objects can fill in gaps in the written record, revealing new aspects of historical production and trade. How much beeswax came from North Africa, for example?

Collins splits his time between Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen, and it’s hard to nail down exactly what kind of -ologist he is. He has a knack for gathering experts as diverse as parchment specialists, veterinarians, geneticists, archivists, economic historians, and protein scientists (his own background). “All I do is connect people together,” he said. “I’m just the ignorant one in the middle.”

However, it didn’t take long his group to hit their first culture conflict. In science and archaeology, destructive sampling is at least tolerated, if not encouraged. But book conservators were not going to let people in white coats come in and cut up their books. Instead of giving up or fighting through it, Sarah Fiddyment, a postdoctoral research fellow working with Collins, shadowed conservationists for several weeks. She saw that they used white Staedtler erasers to clean the manuscripts, and wondered whether that rubbed off enough DNA to do the trick. It did: the team found a way to extract DNA and proteins from eraser pieces, a compromise that satisfied everyone. The team has since sampled 5,000 animals from parchment his way.

Collins is not the first person to think of getting DNA from parchment, but he’s been the first to do it at scale. Studying the DNA in artifacts is still a relatively new field, with many prospects that remain unexplored. But in our own modern world, we’ve already started to change the biological record, and future archaeologists will not find the same treasure of hidden information in our petroleum - laden material culture. Collins pointed out what we no longer rely as much on natural materials to create the objects we need. What might have once been leather or wood or wool is now all plastic.

1. How is Collin’s study different from the study of other archaeologists?

A．He studies human skins and bones.

B．He is the first person to study animal skins.

C．He studies objects related to humans and their lives.

D．His study can provide clues to previous epidemics.

2. The word “-ologist” in paragraph 5 most probably refers to ________.

A．a subject covering a wide area

B．an area to explore

C．a person with special expert knowledge

D．a method to carry out research

3. Collin thinks of himself as ignorant because ________.

A．his major doesn’t help his research

B．he can’t connect experts of different fields

C．he finds it hard to identify what kind of -ologist he is

D．his study covers a wide range of subjects beyond his knowledge

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Destructive sampling is not allowed in the field of science and archeology.

B．Collin made a compromise by only studying copies of books made of animal skins.

C．Book protectors were opposed to Collin’s study because his group tracked them for several weeks.

D．It is difficult for future archeologist to study what society is like today due to plastic objects.

5. What may be the appropriate title of this passage?

A．A new discovery in archaeology

B．A lab discovering DNA in old books

C．Archaeology on animals seeing a breakthrough

D．Collin's contributions to the identification of old books

【推荐2】Now a company is launching a new robot on personal service machines.Rather than keeping you company at home,GITA (pronounced Jee-Tah) helps you go hands-free while you walk down the street, to the grocery store or to visit your neighbors.Like the name, which means“outing" in Italian, the robotic servant is for short trips out and about.

Designed by the Piaggio Group, the smart device uses five cameras to see you,follow you around and carry up to 40 pounds of your belongings for four hours.It's similar to those robotic suitcases that trail behind you at the airport, but with an entirely different outside.Picture a large container but on wheels.That's what GITA looks like in the flagship orange color.Imagine having a hi-tech that can follow you around with your shopping inside.Ir's round and strong yet relatively smart and convenient.The robotic helper is a joy to engage with,sort of like a dog.

Operating GITA is simple.You just press one button to turn it on,one button for the cameras to scan your legs, and you're off.It actually does a pretty good job of following you and recognizing when you change directions.Its movement is oddly natural.When you speed up it falls behind a bit before trying to catch up,and when you stop,it stops-usually.GITA operates best on hard surfaces.However,it can't go upstairs.It can roll on slight inclines(斜坡）and keep up with a walking person at speeds up to 6 miles per hour.

A system of sounds and lights will let you know whether it is unpaired or needs a charge.And an app lets you share your robot with your "crew", so it can follow them, too.With a speaker, your GITA can carry candy and play theme music as you take the kids trick-or-treating.

A USA TODAY tech reporter gave GITA a test run in 2019.He said,"GITA certainly made quite an impression on passers-by as it rolled down New York's busy Madison Avenue."Yet having tech trail behind you takes some getting used to.You can't help but look behind you to make sure it's keeping up, somewhat like monitoring a pet.

1. The new robot is designed mainly to

A．instruct you where to go

B．serve you as you walk around

C．accompany you at home

D．protect you when you're traveling

2. What is the new robot probably like?

A．It looks like a royal dog.

B．It has flags and smart panels.

C．It is round,orange and can roll of itself.

D．It resembles cameras in appearance.

3. GITA scans the legs of its owner to

A．recognize the owner

B．adjust its pace

C．charge more efficiently

D．move more naturally

4. What can we learn about GITA from the last paragraph?

A．People are heavily dependent on it.

B．It is far from being put into use.

C．It is easy to get lost and needs to be improved.

D．Users have difficulty accustoming themselves to it at first.

【推荐3】Earth is lighted up by bioluminescence(生物发光)but，for many of us，seeing the natural phenomenon is a rare treat：Catching the glow(光)of a firefly or witnessing a dolphin swimming through electric blue waters is a thrill.

Researchers are currently engineering glowing flowers and decorative plants that can cast a green light onto our living rooms. Observing plant’s health via its glow can be a way to instantly measure its health,and the side effect is anybody who wants a healthy glowing plant in their living room can have one.

A study published on Monday in Nature Biotechnology shows that this goal is well on its way to being a reality. The study authors announce they’ve created a method that causes plants to glow much brighter,and for a longer period of time,than previous efforts.Plants adapted by this method should be available for purchase within a few years.

The research was conducted through a teamwork between three scientific institutions and Plant,a biotech startup in Moscow.When this team examined a poisonous mushroom,they discovered that caffeic acid is responsible for its bioluminescence. In this new study, the team employed that information and inserted(嵌入)enzymes(酶) —which are specific to the mushroom —into the DNA of tobacco plants.In turn,the enzymes were able to interact with the caffeic acid in the tobacco plants,and cause them to glow both in the dark and in the daylight.

This method,the scientists claimed,made the plants 10 times brighter than previous efforts and the continuous light production didn’t harm the health of the plants. Interestingly, the light decreased as the leaves aged—but it also increased when the leaves were damaged. In turn, the team suggested this method could also help other researchers monitor plant responses to various pressures and changes in the environment. If a plant is short of water or a hungry sheep is harming a plant,bioluminescence could warn of this damage before it’s too late.

1. How can people quickly identify a decorative flower’s health condition?

A．By monitoring its glow.	B．By making it greener.
C．By testing the chemicals in it.	D．By putting it in the living room.

2. What can we expect of the adapted glowing plants?

A．They may take the place of lamps.	B．They will appear on the market.
C．They can light up a whole living room.	D．They glow less bright than previous efforts.

3. What did the team do with the mushroom in the new study?

A．They inserted caffeic acid into it.	B．They made it give out brighter light.
C．They grew it on the tobacco plants farm.	D．They put its enzymes into the tobacco plants.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Warning of potential damage from glowing plants.

B．Increasing light when glowing plants receive damage.

C．Effects of continuous light production on the glowing plants.

D．Benefits of combining specific enzymes with caffeic acid in plants.

【推荐1】University of Pennsylvania researchers say that for the first time they have linked social media use to increases in depression and loneliness． The idea that social media is anything but social when it comes to mental health has been talked about for years， but not many studies have managed to actually link the two． To do that， Penn researchers， led by psychologist Melissa Hunt， designed a study that focused on WeChat， Snapchat and Instagram．

The study was conducted with 143 participants， who before they began， completed a mood survey and sent along photos of their battery screens， showing how often they were using their phones to access social media． "We set out to do a much more complete study which attempts to imitate real life．" Hunt said．

The study divided the participants into two groups： The first group was allowed to maintain their normal social media habits． The other， the control group， was restricted to 10 minutes per day on social media． The restrictions were put in place for three weeks and then the participants returned and were tested for outcomes such as fear of missing out， anxiety， depression and loneliness．

The results showed a very clear link between social media use and increased levels of depression and loneliness． "Using less social media than you normally do would lead to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness，" Hunt said．

Social media invites what Hunt calls "downward social comparison．" "When you're online， it can sometimes seem that everyone else is cooler and having more fun and included in more things and you're left out，" Hunt said． And that's just generally discouraging． "Every minute you spend online is a minute you are not doing your work or not meeting a friend for dinner or having a deep conversation with your roommate．" And these real life activities are the ones that can encourage self﹣esteem and self﹣worth， Hunt added．

"People are on their devices， and that's not going to change，" she said． But as in life， a bit of control goes a long way．

1. Before the study was conducted， the participants completed a survey to　 　．

A．imitate people's real life

B．link loneliness to depression

C．show their use of social media

D．prove social media is important

2. The results of the study showed using less social media would result in　 　．

A．people's fear of missing out

B．higher levels of depression

C．obvious relief in loneliness

D．lower levels of happiness

3. In Hunt's opinion， which activity benefits more to mental health？

A．Hiking out with friends．

B．Making comparison with others．

C．Playing computer games in spare time．

D．Logging onto social media and having fun．

4. Which can be the best title of the passage？

A．A Study on Social Media．

B．How to Improve Mental Health．

C．People Addicted to Social Media．

D．Social Media Influences Mental Health．

【推荐3】Not long ago, Egypt marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suez Canal. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It helped speed world trade between the East and the West. But the man-made waterway has also helped speed the rise of other things, such as invasive(入侵的)non-native species (物种). Scientists say the invasive creatures have damaged the Mediterranean’s environment and caused native species to disappear.

The number of non-native creatures has risen since the Suez Canal was widened in 2015. The “New Suez Canal” has raised concerns in Europe and brought disagreement from many Mediterranean countries. Bella Galil is an Israeli biologist who has studied the Mediterranean for over 30 years. She says much of the ecological(生态的)damage cannot be repaired. She said urgent action is needed to ease the effects of the invasive fish and other sea life.

Galil works at Tel Aviv University’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. She noted that the widening and deepening of the Suez Canal has created a “moving aquarium” of species. These creatures could make coastal waters almost unusable for human beings. Galil believes the number of invasive species has reached 400. That is twice the number 30 years ago. She said this is a “historic example of the dangers of unintended consequences.”

Israel is now dealing with huge numbers of poisonous(有毒的) jellyfish that affect coastal power centers and keep people from visiting the seashore. Other poisonous species, such as the lionfish and silver-cheeked toadfish, are also appearing.

Galil said the problems of invasive species can be compared to those of climate change, pollution and over-fishing. She argues that the new species have caused a major “restructuring” of the environment. This has endangered native species.

Some experts have suggested that increasing salt levels in the canal itself could create a barrier(障碍物) that would keep invasive species out.

1. What lesson can we learn from the effects of the Suez Canal?

A．Seeing is believing.	B．Every coin has two sides.
C．Let nature take its course.	D．Everyone makes mistakes.

2. What’s the attitude of many Mediterranean countries towards the“New Suez Canal"?

A．Uncaring.

B．Unclear.

C．Supportive.

D．Against.

3. What is the ecological environment like after the Suez Canal reconstruction?

A．It is from bad to worse.	B．It remains the same.
C．It improves a great deal.	D．It has become a completely new one.

4. Why did Galil mention climate change,pollution and over-fishing in paragraph 5?

A．To add some background information.	B．To stress the harm of invasive species.
C．To solve the problem of invasive species.	D．To compare their similarities and differences.