A new underwater camera developed recently at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) could have many uses, including climate modeling.
More than 95 percent of the earth’s oceans have never been observed. This means we have seen less of our planet’s ocean than we have the far side of the moon or the surface of Mars. What is preventing widespread undersea exploration? The answer is the high cost of powering an underwater camera for a long time.
MIT researchers have taken a big step to solve this problem. They developed a new underwater camera. The camera is about 100, 000 times more energy-saving than other undersea cameras. It takes color photos, even in dark underwater environments, and sends images through the water. Most importantly, it can work for a very long time by powering itself.
The camera turns energy from sound waves traveling through water into electrical energy. It uses the electrical energy to power its imaging and communication equipment. After capturing images in the ocean, the camera also uses sound waves to send them to a receiver. The camera doesn’t need a power source, so it could run for weeks on end. And this allows scientists to search more parts of the ocean. The camera could also be used to capture images of ocean pollution.
“We can use the camera to help us learn what is happening to the climate. Personally, this is one of the most exciting things about the camera. We are building climate models, but we need to know more about the ocean. This technology could help us build more detailed climate models and better understand how climate change impacts the underwater world,” says Fadel Adib, director of the Signal Kinetics group in the MIT Media Lab.
1. Why does the author mention the moon and Mars?| A．To explain the difficulty in scientific research. |
| B．To indicate it is necessary to observe the ocean. |
| C．To correct a misunderstanding about the ocean. |
| D．To show our knowledge of the ocean is limited. |
| A．It takes over 100,000 photos. |
| B．It works for a long time underwater. |
| C．It costs little to build such a camera. |
| D．It functions well in dark environments. |
| A．How the camera works. |
| B．What the camera looks like. |
| C．How the camera moves underwater. |
| D．Which parts of the ocean the camera works in. |
| A．Prevent the ocean getting polluted. |
| B．Build more complete climate models. |
| C．Understand the reasons for climate change. |
| D．Get more people interested in the underwater world. |
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【推荐1】Chad Nelson’s five-minute animated film (动画片), called “Critterz”, was shown online this week and introduces viewers to furry creatures that live in an imaginary jungle. It’s an early example showing the possibilities and dangers of using artificial intelligence (AI) in film-making, a development that both excites and worries Hollywood.
Nelson, an independent visual artist, didn’t use AI for the whole production. He wrote the script himself, and invited actors to record the audio and animators to bring the creatures to life. It would normally take a large group of members six full months to create the kinds of high-quality images (图像) in “Critterz,” its movie director Nelson said. But using OpenAI’s Dall-E, the process went much faster, only one week.
Independent film-makers and Hollywood studios have been early users of AI tools, which can create texts, images and videos based on plenty of data. These increasingly advanced products can save time and resources, their supporters say.
But the appearance of these tools is causing trepidation. A recent report said AI could have a great influence on the global economy and subject 300 million jobs to automation (自动化). Actors, such as Keanu Reeves, are raising alarm bells, saying the rise of generative AI (such as Dall-E and ChatGPT) is “scary” and could be a way for managers not to pay artists fairly.
Many Hollywood studios see this technology as a way to cut costs when making movies. Greg Brockman, the president and co-founder of OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, has argued that AI will improve cinema, allowing people to have interactive (互动的) experiences with art. He gave the example of the ending of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
Nelson said, “It’s likely that AI will replace (取代) some jobs in Hollywood while also potentially creating more.” He mentioned the appearance of computer-editing software, and how that replaced more traditional movie-editing jobs and processes.
1. What do we know about the film “Critterz”?| A．It was produced by HBO. | B．It is the first film to use AI. |
| C．Its images took seven days to make. | D．Its script was completely created by AI. |
| A．Concern. | B．Justice. | C．Curiosity. | D．Excitement. |
| A．To explain the functions of AI. | B．To show the trouble caused by AI. |
| C．To introduce the company OpenAI. | D．To praise the advantages of using AI. |
| A．It may open up new job opportunities. |
| B．It may improve people’s job performance. |
| C．It may change the development of the computer. |
| D．It may inspire Hollywood to create more movies. |
【推荐2】Israeli company Watergen has produced an appliance that generates clean, drinkable water out of air. The device called GENNY is small enough to be used in a home or office but can generate up to 30 liters of water a day.
The water that GENNY produces is not only clean enough to drink, it's also often cleaner than tap water.
GENNY takes air in and passes it through a filter to remove dust and dirt. The filter is powerful enough to work even in areas with high air pollution. The air then passes through a chamber where heating and cooling cause water vapor in the air to condense (凝结). This water is then passed through several more filters and minerals are added to make it healthier and taste better. Finally, the water is stored in a tank where it is continually circulated to keep it fresh.
A larger model, called the GEN-350, can produce up to 900 liters of water per day. The GEN-350 is now being used in hospitals that previously did not have a reliable source of fresh, clean water. Watergen has also developed an emergency response vehicle (ERV) that can carry a GEN-350 unit wherever it is needed. In addition to the GEN-350, the ERV carries a portable generator that supplies electricity for the GEN-350.
Watergen's ERV is designed to bring water to people who are suffering from the effects of a serious earthquake, fire, flood or other situation. Once such incident occurred in Northern California in 2018. A fire started at a camp site and spread quickly over a wide area, destroying many thousands of acres of trees and many homes. The town of Paradise, California, was hit particularly hard. One of Watergen's ERVs was driven to Paradise, where it provided water for its citizens and rescue workers.
1. What does the article point out about Watergen's devices?| A．They're manufactured in numerous countries. |
| B．They're very difficult to operate sometimes. |
| C．They cost less than they did years ago. |
| D．They're available in different sizes. |
| A．It satisfies local water regulations. |
| B．It improves the flavor of the water. |
| C．It prepares the water for shipment abroad. |
| D．It keeps the water at the right temperature. |
| A．The water is transferred to plastic bottles. |
| B．The bacteria in the water are destroyed. |
| C．The quality of the water is carefully tested. |
| D．The water is kept moving at all times. |
| A．Respond to natural disasters. |
| B．Put its competitors out of business. |
| C．Increase its profit margins. |
| D．Deal with customers' complaints. |
【推荐3】There have been numerous attempts to create an all-plastic bike. But most have never passed through the prototype stage(原始阶段). Igus, a Germany-based manufacturer of high-performance plastics, and Dutch start-up MTRL aim to change that with the igus: bike — the world’s first urban bike crafted almost entirely from recycled plastic.
Igus CEO Frank Blasé first got the idea while vacationing on a Florida beach in 2009. A conversation with some employees from a rental company made him aware of the challenges of maintaining beach bicycles. The continuous exposure to sand, wind and salt water caused the bikes to rust rapidly. Many had to be replaced in only three months.
The igus: bike, unveiled at a German trade show, is maintainable and rust-free. It can be left outdoors in all weathers and does not require lubricant oil to reduce friction between parts. Since it does not attract sand, dust or dirt, the bike can be cleaned with a garden hose(水管) in seconds.
“As all components are made of plastic, no part of the bike rusts, even the gears —bicycle gears made of plastic were unthinkable for a long time,” Blasé says.
The igus: bike will also help combat the world’s plastic pollution. The company says a single adult bike gives new life to about 16 kilograms of single-use plastic that would otherwise choke our landfills or waterways.
Currently,90 percent of the igus: bike is made using recycled plastic. This includes the bicycle’s frame, bearings, pedals and wheel rims. Igus and MTRL believe future versions will be made entirely from recycled plastic.
“From ocean plastics to motion plastics — the igus: bike concept has what it takes to become ahigh-tech ecological product,” says MTRL co-founder Benjamin Alderse Baas.
The plastic bikes are expected to come onto the market in early 2023. An adult model, made entirely from recycled plastic, will cost about E1400. A slightly cheaper version made using new plastic and an electric bike are also in the works. Igus also plans on sharing its technology with other bicycle manufacturers.
1. What makes Igus CEO Frank Blase seek to create the igus: bike?| A．His holidaying in Florida last year. |
| B．The trouble of keeping beach bicycles in good condition. |
| C．The conversation between him and some bicyclers. |
| D．The prolonged exposure of bikes on the beach. |
| A．Revealed. | B．Concealed. | C．Opposed. | D．Prohibited. |
| A．It will certainly sell well. | B．It needs to be more portable. |
| C．It can be used everywhere and freely. | D．It is rust less and cleans easily. |
| A．They will be cheaper and lighter. | B．They will be more high-tech ecological. |
| C．They will be crafted from only recycled plastics. | D．They will be used widely all over the world. |
【推荐1】According to a new study by Tampere University in Finland, making eye contact with a robot may have the same effect on people as eye contact with another person. The result predicts that interaction between humans and humanoid robots will be surprisingly smooth.
With the rapid progress in robotics, it is expected that people will increasingly interact with so-called social robots in the future. Despite the artificiality of robots, people seem to react to them socially. For instance, people may sense different qualities, such as knowledge ability, sociability and likability in robots based on how they look or behave.
Previous surveys have been able to throw light on people’s sensory ability of social robots and their characteristics, but the very central question has remained unanswered. Does interacting with a robot cause similar reactions to people as interacting with another human?
Researchers at Tampere University investigated the matter by studying the physiological (生理的) reactions that eye contact with a social robot produces. In the new study, the research participants sat face to face with another person or a humanoid robot. The person and the robot looked either directly at the participants and made eye contact or avoided their gaze. At the same time, the participants’ skin conductance (电导率), which reflected the activity of the autonomous nervous systems, the electrical activity of the cheek muscle reflecting positive affective reactions, and the heart rate reduction were measured.
The result showed that all the above-mentioned physiological reactions were stronger in the case of eye contact when compared to averted gaze (转移目光). This result is shared with both another person and a humanoid. Eye contact with the robot and another human focused the participants’ attention and brought about a positive emotional response.
“Our result shows that the non-linguistic (非语言的), interaction-regulating signals of social robots can affect humans in the same way as similar signals presented by other people. Such evidence allows us to assume that as robot technology develops, there may be no barrier to interaction between social robots and humans,” says doctoral researcher Helena.
1. What does the new study focus on?| A．When robots can respond like humans. |
| B．How humans make eye contact socially. |
| C．The reasons for humans having qualities of social robots. |
| D．Humans’ response when interacting with robots and humans. |
| A．Averted gaze makes no difference to robots. |
| B．Social robots can’t affect humans’ response. |
| C．Robots feel stronger than humans when interacting. |
| D．Eye contact with robots contributes to a positive response. |
| A．They can interact with humans smoothly. |
| B．They will have a side effect on interaction. |
| C．They can have regulating interaction as humans. |
| D．They will send out accurate human linguistic signals. |
| A．By assuming relative effects. | B．By presenting past discoveries. |
| C．By referring to a questionnaire survey. | D．By indicating the result of research. |
【推荐2】How can you find out what is going on inside a person’s body without opening the patient s body up? Regular X-rays can show a lot. CAT scans can show even more. They can give a complete view of body organs.
What is a CAT scan? CAT stands for a kind of machine. It is a special X-ray machine that gets a 360-degree picture of a small area of a patient’s body.
Doctors use X-rays to study and determine diseases and injuries within the body. X-rays can find a foreign object inside the body or take pictures of some inside organs to be X-rayed.
A CAT scanner，however，uses a group of X-rays to give a cross-sectional (横截面) view of a specific part of the body. A fine group of X-rays is scanned across the body and around the patient from many different directions. A computer studies the information from each direction and produces a clear cross-sectional picture on a screen. This picture is then photo-graphed for later use. Several cross sections, taken one after another，can give clear “photos” of the entire body or of any body organs. The latest CAT scanners can even give clear pictures of active，moving organs，just as a fast-action camera can “stop the action”，giving clear pictures of what appears unclear to the eye. And because of the 360-degree pictures, CAT scans show clear and complete views of organs in a manner that was once only shown during operation or examination of a dead patient.
Frequent appearance before X-rays can cause skin burns, cancer or other damage to the body. Yet CAT scans actually don’t cause the patient to more radiation than regular X-rays do. CAT scans can also be done without getting something harmful into the patient, so they are less risky than regular X-rays.
CAT scans provide exact, detailed information. They can quickly find such a thing as bleeding inside the brain. They are helping to save lives.
1. The underlined words “a foreign object” in Paragraph 3 most probably refer to .| A．a badly injured part inside the body |
| B．a new thing that is unknown to the doctor |
| C．a strange cell that has grown in the body |
| D．a thing that gets inside the body by chance |
| A．It can take pictures of inside organs. |
| B．It provides clear photos of moving organs. |
| C．It won’t cause serious skin bums, cancer or other damage to the body. |
| D．It helps to find out illness inside a person’s body without opening it up. |
| A．Patients in front of CAT may suffer a bit of radiation, |
| B．Doctors need no opening-up of the body with CAT scanners. |
| C．CAT scanners are more expensive than regular X-ray machines. |
| D．CAT scanners can take photos of either the whole body or a part of it. |
| A．The newest medical invention |
| B．A special X-ray machine to save lives |
| C．How to avoid the damage from X-rays |
| D．Advantages and disadvantages of CAT scanners |
【推荐3】The Printing Press
What do you think is the most important invention in the last 1,000 years? It is the lightbulb or the Internet? Many people say that it is the printing press, a machine that allows us to print copies or books and documents. But why is the printing press so important?
Before the printing press, books were copied by hand. Ancient Roman book publisher sometimes sold as many as 5,000 copies of a book that had been copied by slaves. But copying a book took so much time and was so expensive that often only a few copies of each book were made. As a result, usually only a small percentage of the population learned to read and owned books.
In 1450, a goldsmith named Johannes Gutenberg in Germany invented the modern printing press. The impact of his machine is sometimes compared to the invention of the Internet. Although ancient Chinese people invented paper in 105 AD and used woodblock printing before 200 AD, Gutenberg’s printing press was easy to use with languages that had alphabetic scripts. After 1450, thousands of copies of a popular book or newspaper could be made quickly and cheaply. Books and newspapers with ideas and images from all over the world went into the market for the wide public.
Knowledge is power. Reading has brought about amazing changes in science, technology and politics. We have learned how to create wealth and even travel to far-away worlds. The computer, cellphone, and Internet have grown, because billions of powerful readers were created by the printing press.
From 1450 on, more and more people have become readers. These billions of readers are powerful, and they help the world to make progress at a fast speed.
1. What is a printing press?| A．A book | B．A machine. | C．A material. | D．A newspaper. |
| A．few books to read | B．little time to read | C．no money for books | D．no interest in books |
| A．low cost | B．common use | C．great influence | D．rapid development |
| A．The progress. | B．The future. | C．The contribution. | D．The function. |
【推荐1】The American space agency NASA has launched (发射) a new instrument designed to collect data on volcanic activity and air quality. The device arrived at the International Space Station on February 21. NASA hopes the small orbiting instrument could help predict a volcanic eruption before an explosion happens.
NASA calls the instrument NACHOS, which stands for Nanosat Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System. It contains imaging sensors designed to recognize gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The presence of those gases can signal possible volcanic activity.
NACHOS was built to observe trace gases in areas as small as 0. 4 square kilometers. The six-kilogram instrument is set to be deployed (部署) three months later. It will operate attached to a CubeSat, a small satellite weighing less than 10 kilograms. NASA says NACHOS will observe from about 480 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
NASA considers the instrument a “prototype”, meaning its operations and observations will be studied during its orbit, which is expected to last one year. During its year-long mission, the team will study the instrument’s performance to learn whether the technology should be further developed.
Steve Love is a scientist with the Department of Energy. He said a volcano may give off sulfur dioxide before there is any volcanic activity. Such a device could help emergency officials take early measures to protect citizens and property from volcanic eruptions. But NASA says NACHOS can help scientists on Earth in other ways, too.
The instrument can also be used to observe gas levels from natural and human-made sources that can be harmful to humans. One gas that NACHOS will search for is nitrogen dioxide, which often comes from burning fossil fuels. Identifying the gas could help scientists find areas with high levels of harmful pollution.
“When we recognize that these gases are present and can localize their sources, we have the opportunity to take action and reduce harmful health influences,” Love said.
In the past, NASA created satellites to observe these kinds of gases. But Love said those required high-resolution images and sensitive instruments that were costly to produce and operate.
Smaller devices, like NACHOS, could enable a wider use of the technology at a much lower cost. If it proves successful, the technology could also be used in Earth-based systems, NASA says.
1. What will NACHOS do to find possible volcanic activity?| A．Analyze past explosions. | B．Observe the color of clouds. |
| C．Identify certain gases. | D．Collect volcanic pictures. |
| A．By listing detailed facts. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By making classifications. |
| A．Reduce harmful gas levels. | B．Delay volcanic eruptions. |
| C．Improve satellites’ functions. | D．Help protect people’s health. |
| A．It costs much less. | B．It can be used in Earth-based systems. |
| C．It works longer. | D．It can be easily controlled. |
【推荐2】Land Art, sometimes referred to as Earth Art or Earthworks, is a form of art which involves using physical landscapes to create art, taking art out of the museum and into the outside world. Modern Land Art movement really got going in the 1960s when American artists began creating Land Art on a large scale.Today, works of modern Land Art can be seen all over the world, sometimes right alongside much older pieces of Land Art created by people who lived thousands of years ago.
Land Art, which is not necessarily unchangeable, can take a number of forms. For example, in 1970 Robert Smithson created the Spiral Jetty (螺旋状防波堤), made of a collection of stones and mud, in the Great Salt Lake. The American artist made a large jetty in a spiral shape which sticks out into the waters of the lake.
Reshaping the landscape is a common characteristic of Land Art，which can be created by moving parts around. People can also add things to the environment to create Land Art, like salt, which is added to the Spiral Jetty. It is possible to use plants.In all cases, Land Art is immovable.
Land Art is designed to gradually form, change, and eventually decay (衰落). That’s one of the biggest differences between Land Art and most of the art one sees in the museums. Some works of art can exist only for a few hours or days. Others are exposed to rain and wind so that they develop and decay over time, which is part of the attractiveness in the eyes of the artists.
1. What do we know about Robert Smithson?| A．He is a great creative artist. |
| B．He lives near the Great Salt Lake. |
| C．He made the most famous Land Art. |
| D．He is a pioneer in creating Land Art. |
| A．It shows the extreme beauty of nature. |
| B．It develops and decays gradually over time. |
| C．It combines the landscapes around completely. |
| D．It offers the artists a chance to get close to nature. |
| A．Works of Land Art. |
| B．History of Land Art. |
| C．Changes of Land Art. |
| D．Introduction to Land Art. |
【推荐3】Firefighters are often called upon to do far more than fight fires. Often they are called to rescue people or animals that are trapped. When firefighters receive an emergency call,they have to decide quickly how serious the situation is and what equipment might be needed,such as the jaws of life. These call outs at times,however,may involve some very strange rescues.
There are many stories of firefighters being called to rescue animals trapped in strange places. For example,firefighters have been called to rescue a dog trapped in a wheelchair,a bull with its head stuck in a tree,and a chimp up a chimney. A bat was rescued from a lamppost,and a fox stuck in some mud was rescued too. A donkey that fell into a ditch took firefighters over five hours to winch out.
In many countries,the number of animal call outs is increasing. However,some people think that pet owners should be more responsible in watching their animals. If firefighters are rescuing animals,they are not available to attend other emergencies and people’s lives could be at risk.
Some people think firefighters shouldn’t be called firefighters for their not doing their business. While they do many different tasks,one is helping to free animals and people that are stuck. Some of these people get stuck because they are showing off,like a man stuck in a washing machine,or breaking the law,like a burglar stuck in a window. Maybe firefighters should just put out fires,but if not,then a new name for them would probably be a good idea.
1. Which of the following things do firefighters often do according to the text?| A．They repair cars. | B．They deliver goods. |
| C．They fight fires. | D．They rescue animals. |
| A．A firefighter’s role. |
| B．Strange animal rescues. |
| C．Rescue at a cost. |
| D．Renaming firefighters. |
| A．They have responsibilities to do a lot. |
| B．They are kind of unique. |
| C．A lot of time they are not putting out fires. |
| D．They are very busy with their jobs. |
| A．Strange Call Outs | B．A Special Group |
| C．Different Jobs | D．A New Name |
