The curb cut (下斜路缘). It’s a convenience that most of us rarely, if ever, notice. Yet, without it, daily life might be a lot harder—in more ways than one. Pushing a baby stroller onto the curb, skateboarding onto a sidewalk or taking a full grocery cart from the sidewalk to your car—all these tasks are easier because of the curb cut.
But it was created with a different purpose in mind.
It’s hard to imagine today, but back in the 1970s, most sidewalks in the United States ended with a sharp drop-off. That was a big deal for people in wheelchairs because there were no ramps (斜坡) to help them move along city blocks without assistance. According to one disability rights leader, a six-inch curb “might as well have been Mount Everest”. So, activists from Berkeley, California, who also needed wheelchairs, organized a campaign to create tiny ramps at intersections to help people dependent on wheels move up and down curbs independently.
I think about the “curb cut effect” a lot when working on issues around health equity (公平). The first time I even heard about the curb cut was in a 2017 Stanford Social Innovation Review piece by PolicyLink CEO Angela Blackwell. Blackwell rightly noted that many people see equity “as a zero-sum game.” Basically, that there is a “prejudiced societal suspicion that intentionally supporting one group hurts another.” What the curb cut effect shows though, Blackwell said, is that “when society creates the circumstances that allow those who have been left behind to participate and contribute fully, everyone wins.”
There are multiple examples of this principle at work. For example, investing in policies that create more living-wage jobs or increase the availability of affordable housing certainly benefits people in communities that have limited options. But, the action also empowers those people with opportunities for better health and the means to become contributing members of society—and that benefits everyone. Even the football huddle (围成一团以秘密商讨) was initially created to help deaf football players at Gallaudet College keep their game plans secret from opponents who could have read their sign language. Today, it’s used by every team to shield the opponent from learning about game-winning strategies.
So, next time you cross the street, or roll your suitcase through a crosswalk or ride your bike directly onto a sidewalk—think about how much the curb cut, that change in design that broke down walls of exclusion for one group of people at a disadvantage, has helped not just that group, but all of us.
1. By “might as well have been Mount Everest” (paragraph 3), the disability rights leader implies that a six-inch curb may become ________.| A．as famous as the world’s highest mountain |
| B．an almost impassable barrier |
| C．a connection between people |
| D．a most unforgettable matter |
| A．it’s fair to give the disadvantaged more help than others |
| B．it’s impossible to have everyone be treated equally |
| C．it’s necessary to go all out to help the disabled |
| D．it’s not worthwhile to promote health equity |
| A．Spaceflight designs are applied to life on earth. |
| B．Four great inventions of China spread to the west. |
| C．Christopher Columbus discovered the new world. |
| D．Classic literature got translated into many languages. |
| A．Everyday items are originally invented for people with disabilities. |
| B．Everyone in a society should pursue what is in his or her interest. |
| C．A disability rights leader changed the life of his fellow men. |
| D．Caring for disadvantaged groups may finally benefit all. |
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【推荐1】On Thursday night my two adult children took us out to dinner as our daughter lives in Bathurst and she will be there for Father’s Day with her husband’s side of the family. Two of our grandchildren were able to join us.
Having pre-celebrated my Father’s Day and it being on our minds, my wife asked this question only this morning:
“Do you remember anything about your father?”
While this subject had come up before, however, the question had not been put so bluntly(直率的). I answered “No. My only memory is of the few photos outside.” You see, my father died when I was only four years old.
Many people have lost their father early in life and it is easy to feel somewhat sorry for having to deal with such a situation, especially when the death has occurred when you are at an early age. On reflection, I think I do not remember anything because he passed away when he was a member of the Royal Australian Air Force. He was a Corporal(下士) doing land based duties, however, a medical condition took his life. It was 1942.
The 2nd World War was in full battle and Australia was being attacked. My Mum and I, with my younger brother, were living with my grandparents and I can only imagine the emotional circumstances that existed in the household at that time. Probably not something that would leave a memory.
What I would like to say at this time, as the question is often asked, “What did you learn from your father?” The thing I learnt from his passing, at the age of 28, is a love of life. What I do remember is growing up wondering if I would live to his age, and after I did, thinking each year the bonus(津贴) of life I had been blessed with when compared to my father.
I have sometimes felt disappointment in not knowing my father but life has moved on. However, can I say to those who do have fathers, celebrate today with him and return him all the love and happiness he has given to you.
1. Why did the author answered “No” in Para 4?| A．He didn’t want to talk about his father. | B．His father died when he was very young. |
| C．He was much disappointed in his father. | D．There was no photo of his father left. |
| A．He is the only child of his parents. | B．His father died of a medical condition. |
| C．He remembered quite a lot about his father. | D．He lived with his parents during World War II. |
| A．realize the love of his own life. | B．hope to live longer than his father. |
| C．feel very disappointed all the time. | D．want to get more bonus from life. |
| A．His father’s life. | B．His Father’s Day. |
| C．His fatherless childhood. | D．His father’s influence. |
【推荐2】Mary had her own special kind of joy, and she knew exactly how to spread it around. She lifted children from loneliness into laughter and love.
One evening, Mary was hosting a meeting for a group of new adoptive parents. One of the new fathers stood up.
“Twenty years ago, I felt alone and worthless. I felt like I didn’t deserve to have the things that others have. Then Mary brought two wonderful people into my life.
My mother gave me this rose. By now, all of you know where she got it. This rose reminds me of the beautiful times I was given. Just yesterday Mary sent me a new rose. The new rose symbolizes a beautiful new beginning for my own little girl.
Thank you, Mary, for the special little things like roses that tie our lives together!”
Are you looking for a special kind of significance, a special purpose that you can’t quite reach? Take a look at your “roses”, the little things that are all yours, things that make your heart sing. What are they?
When the answers become clear, you’ll find that your “roses” can make a difference. They can bring joy and even a new beginning to you and many other people.
| A．They loved me unconditionally. |
| B．However, I lived an unhappy life at that time. |
| C．Each time she found a new home for a child, she gave that family a paper rose. |
| D．He reached into his pocket and held up a paper rose. |
| E．Nowhere in this world can you get the answer. |
| F．How can you share them with someone? |
| G．It reminds me to show her what unconditional love is. |
【推荐3】I used to think education was the most important thing in my life. Recently my attitude has begun to change, although I still hold that it is essential for everyone in the world today. As a top junior student in my college, I was asked to make a speech on how to learn English well. Standing in front of the audience and facing so many freshmen, I was trembling. I didn't remember any word that I had prepared. I ran out of the conference room without finishing my speech, leaving everyone puzzled. I cried that night in my room, feeling that I was a loser. Studying takes up so much of my time that I feel unable to really develop myself. I am just storing knowledge, yet I fail to communicate with others. I have received many awards in school, but they don't necessarily reflect anything about me. I don't know how to socialize. When I leave school I fear I will be of no use to society.
I realize that everyone has his own way of living. I want to change my lifestyle. Of course I will keep studying. Yet I plan to look for a part-time job, which might turn out to be a good chance to get to know society. I still believe that working my hardest makes me happy. I will still stay on in college. But I will not allow it to shelter me from the real world.
1. The underlined word “essential” in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.| A．impossible | B．unnecessary |
| C．most important | D．most useful |
| A．comes to know how important it is to make some money |
| B．realizes that it is more important to develop oneself than just to learn knowledge |
| C．does not think education is a most important thing in her life any more |
| D．thinks that communication with others is more important than education |
| A．she is unable to develop herself |
| B．studying takes too much of her time |
| C．she does not know how to communicate with others |
| D．she feels that she is a failure |
【推荐1】Chokwe Selassie, aged 13, is working hard to help drivers avoid potholes(坑洼). The eighth-grader was inspired to kick off his creation on a recent morning, when his mother was driving him to school. Their car was damaged as it went over a huge pothole in the middle of the street in their hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. He decided to do something about the pothole problem in his city. His solution: an app that warns drivers when there is a pothole ahead.
Chokwe developed the app with his friends Rodriguez Ratliff and Emmanuel Brooks. When the app detects a pothole, it is highlighted in red. And if you get close to the pothole, your phone will warn you. Drivers can also use the app to report any potholes they meet, and to look for other routes they can take to avoid roads that have them.
The app relies on current available information about the streets of Jackson. It works by using the city’s 311 call system, and uses information already stored in a database. Through the call system, citizens dial 311 to report non-emergency problems, which include potholes. Chokwe and his friends determined that focusing on the 10 busiest streets in Jackson would give them a large enough sample size to test the prototype(原型).
Although the app isn't yet available for sale, Chokwe is already looking for ways to improve it. The prototype remains limited to 10 streets in Jackson, but he hopes to add more, so that it includes every street in the city. And then he wants to go even farther until it's nationwide.
1. The passage is mainly about ________.| A．a solution to traffic jams | B．an App to detect potholes |
| C．pothole problems in big cities | D．poor road conditions |
| A．leave | B．invent |
| C．begin | D．change |
| A．By replying to citizens’ calls. |
| B．By broadcasting traffic accidents. |
| C．By settling non-emergency problems. |
| D．By using its information about potholes. |
| A．Encouraging more kids to create apps. |
| B．Taking part in more learning programs. |
| C．Making the app available for sale online. |
| D．Making the app include streets nationwide. |
【推荐2】For over one hundred and fifty years, Americans of all social classes have worn blue jeans. Since they were invented by Levi Strauss, they have become a symbol of American consumer culture. Whether they are worn for work or for fashion today, Strauss’ invention continues to be popular not only among Americans but also among people around the world.
Levi Strauss was born in Germany in 1829.
Strauss did not want to be a person who searched an area for minerals. Instead, he knew he could make a good living by selling supplies to the miners. At first, he planned to sell sewing supplies and cloth.
In 1873, Strauss received a letter from a Jewish tailor named Jacob Davis who had invented a process of connecting pockets with copper rivets(铆钉). This made the pants last a long time. Because Davis did not have the money to patent his idea, he offered to share it with Strauss if Strauss would agree to pay for the patent.
By the time Strauss died in 1902, he had made a great contribution to American fashion.
He also made a great contribution to America's clothing industry. The business has been growing ever since and Levi Strauss' company is now one of the largest clothing companies in the world.
| A．As a young boy, he moved with his family to the United States. |
| B．Nobody knew what kind of material was suitable. |
| C．He did and Levi jeans have been made with metal rivets ever since. |
| D．However, he did not get much business for those products. |
| E．As the business grew, Strauss got much money from it. |
【推荐3】Earthquake rescue robots have experienced their final tests in Beijing.Their designers say with these robots,rescuers will be able to buy more time to save lives during an earthquake.
This robot looking like a helicopter,is called the detector-bot.It’s about 4 meters long,and it took about 4 years to develop the model.Its main functions are to collect information from the air,and send goods of up to 30 kilos to people trapped by an earthquake.
This robot has a high definition 360 degrees panoramic (全景) camera.It can work day and night and will also be able to send the latest pictures from the quake area.
Dr.Qi Juntong,Chinese Academy of Science,said,“The most important feature of this robot is that it doesn’t need a distant control.We just set the destination (目的地) information on it,and then it takes off,and lands by itself.It flies as high as 3,000 meters,and as fast as 100 kilometers per hour.”
This robot has a different function—it can change as the environment changes.Its main job is to search for any signs of life in places where human rescuers are unable to go.
As well as a detector (探测器) that finds victims and detects poisonous gas,a camera is placed in the 40 centimeters long robot, which can work in the dark.
Another use for the rescuers is the supply bot.With its 10-meter-long pipe,people who are trapped in the ruins,will be able to get supplies including oxygen and liquids.
Experts have said that the robots will enter production,and serve as part of the national earthquake rescue team as soon as next year.
1. According to the passage,this robot_______.| A．is carried by the helicopter |
| B．weighs about 30 kilos |
| C．hasn’t been put into production so far. |
| D．is a machine with a length of 10 meters |
| A．it has more functions |
| B．it has a unique shape |
| C．it has more advanced cameras |
| D．it can work by himself once given the information |
| A．a detector | B．a camera |
| C．a rescuer | D．a supply |
| A．an introduction to the robot |
| B．what the robot looks like |
| C．how the robot is made |
| D．information about earthquakes |
【推荐1】The biggest house of cards, the longest tongue, and of course, the tallest man: these are among the thousands of records logged in the famous Guinness Book of Records. Created in 1955 after a debate concerning Europe's fastest game bird, what began as a marketing tool sold to pub landlords to promote Guinness, an Irish drink, became the bestselling copyright title of all time (a category that excludes books such as the Bible and the Koran). In time, the book would sell 120 million copies in over 100 countries— quite a leap from its humble beginnings.
In its early years, the book set its sights on satisfying man's inborn curiosity about the natural world around him. Its two principal fact finders, twins Norris and Ross McWhirter, moved wildly around the globe to collect facts. It was their task to find and document aspects of life that can be sensed or observed, things that can be quantified or measured. But not just any things. They were only interested in superlatives: the biggest and the best. It was during this period that some of the remarkable Guinness Records were documented, answering such questions as "What is the brightest star?" and "What is the biggest spider?"
Once aware of the public's thirst for such knowledge, the book's authors began to branch out to cover increasingly doubtful, little-known facts. They started documenting human achievements as well. A forerunner for reality television, the Guinness Book gave people a chance to become famous for accomplishing odd, often pointless tasks. Records were set in 1955 for consuming 24 raw eggs in 14 minutes and in 1981 for the fastest solving of a Rubik's Cube (which took a mere 38 seconds). In 1979 a man yodeled non-stop for ten and a quarter hours.
In its latest appearance, the book has found a new home on the internet. No longer restricted to the limits of physical paper, the Guinness World Records website contains seemingly innumerable facts concerning such topics as the most powerful combustion engine, or the world's longest train. What is striking, however, is that such facts are found sharing a page with the record of the heaviest train to be pulled with a beard. While there is no denying that each of these facts has its own, individual temptation, the latter represents a significant deviation from the education-oriented facts of earlier editions. Perhaps there is useful knowledge to be obtained regarding the tensile strength of a bread, but this seems to cater to an audience more interested in seeking entertainment than education.
Originating as a simple bar book, the Guinness Book of Records has evolved over decades to provide insight into the full range of modern life. And although one may be more likely now to learn about the widest human mouth than the highest number of casualties in a single battle of the Civil War, the Guinness World Records website offers a telling glimpse into the future of fact-finding and record-recording.
1. As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for empirical?| A．able to catch attention | B．derived from experience |
| C．recorded for nature | D．easy to gain |
| A．a departure from book sales a promotion tool to the local bars |
| B．an end to the use of facts as a means to promote Guinness |
| C．a shift in focus from educational to entertaining material |
| D．a move from fact-finding to the recording of achievements |
| A．Sympathetic | B．idiotic |
| C．invaluable | D．shallow |
| A．The encyclopedia of the extremes reflects the changing interests of modern society. |
| B．A book of simple origins makes it to the top as sales total a staggering 120 million copies. |
| C．The Guinness World Records website proves itself a valuable resource for insight into the full spectrum of modern life. |
| D．Where other books fall short, the index of superlative sciences never ceases to amaze. |
【推荐2】Why do you go to the library? For books, yes--but you like books because they tell stories. You hope to get lost in a story or be transported into someone else's life. At one type of library, you can do just that--even though there's not a single book.
At a Human Library, instead of books, you can “borrow” people. Individuals volunteer as human “books” and participants in the event can “read” the book--meaning they would have a one-on-one conversation with the volunteer and share in a dialogue about that individual's experience. “Books” are volunteers from all walks of life who have experienced discrimination (歧视) based on race, religion, class, gender identity, age, lifestyle choices, disability and other aspects of their life
For a certain amount of time, you can ask them questions and listen to their stories, which are as fascinating and as attractive as any you can find in a book. Many of the stories have to do with some kind of stereotype. You can speak with a refugee (难民), a soldier suffering from PTSD, a homeless person or a woman living with HIV. The Human Library encourages people to challenge their own long-held beliefs-to truly get to know, and learn from someone they might otherwise make a quick judgment about.
According to its website, the Human Library is “a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.” It provides the opportunity for the community to share and understand the experiences of others in their community.
The Human Library Organization came to be in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2000. Ronni Abergel, his brother Dany, and some colleagues hosted a four-day during a major Northern European festival, hoping to raise awareness about violence among youth. After the success of this event, Abergel founded the Human Library Organization, which has been growing ever since.
Though there are a few permanent human libraries, most aren’t places at all, but events. Though many do take place at physical libraries, you don’t need a library card—anyone can come and be part of the experience. There have been human library events all over the globe, in universities and in pubs, from Chicago to Tunis to Edinburgh to San Antonio.
The stories these "books" tell range from fascinating to heartbreaking and everything in between. And that's the very point of the organization--to prove that no person can be summed up in just one word. It seeks to show people that you truly can't judge a book by its cover---or by its title or label.
1. The “books” in human libraries are____________.| A．long-held beliefs attracting individuals |
| B．inspiring stones motivating people in trouble |
| C．events in which people can talk to volunteers |
| D．unfairly-treated people sharing their experiences |
| A．aimed to help the young suffering from violence |
| B．attempted to replace traditional physical libraries |
| C．laid a foundation for the Human Library Organization |
| D．led to a pleasing development for the community with racism |
| A．deepen their understanding of people | B．enrich their own personal experiences |
| C．hear the stories from all over the world | D．make quick judgments about the “books” |
| A．compare and evaluate | B．inform and explain |
| C．discuss and persuade | D．analyze and suggest |
【推荐3】The three phases of life are increasingly a thing of the past.Where once working lives fitted neatly into the model of education,employment and then retirement,the simplicity of that division is being challenged by changing standards of the workforce.
Increasing numbers of workers,nearing their long-imagined transition(过渡)into retirement,seem to be actively putting off the moment at which they down tools.Newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics(ONS)have shown that there are over a million more over 50s in part-time work than a decade ago.And with nine out of 10 employers reporting difficulties hiring workers,there’s likely to be a growing market for their talents as bosses extend their searches to older people,including those who are willing to take on part-time responsibilities.
The ending of the three phases of working life isn’t simply down to people living longer or financial necessity-though those are certainly important factors-but also to an increasing desire to maintain a purposeful life. One survey of British retirees over 50 found that 85 per cent of them felt they’d retired too young—stopping working had left a void that they regretted afterwards.
The 2015 film The Intern conveyed this human need to have value.In it,Robert De Niro plays a 70-year-old widower who finds himself a fish out of water when he joins a trendy internet start-up.In the end,not only does he find the sense of belonging that he desires but his colleagues come to rely on his experience and different perspective.It’s a plot we can increasingly expect to happen in real-life offices over the decades to come as people live ever longer.
Already,we are seeing people in their 50s and 60s looking ahead to a retirement lasting 30 years,choosing instead to build second careers that they can maintain into their 70s or beyond. Freed from the financial burden of young children,they can prioritize flexibility,shorter working hours or more rewarding jobs in areas such as charity work or teaching.Many do it for no money at all,volunteering behind the till in charity shops or showing people round National Trust properties.
However,it’s the next generation where the effect of living longer will really be felt,and the financial necessity will start to bite.In the West,more than half of the children born in 2016 have a life expectancy of more than 100 years.In their book,The 100-Year Life,London Business School professors Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott suggest that acquiring sufficient funds to see oneself through a 40-or 50-year retirement will likely be beyond all but the highest earners.
Then there’s the oft-repeated claim that young people today are the first generation to be poorer than their parents.Certainly property prices are changing the way they plan for the future. In the mid-Nineties,the average home cost less than three times the average wage;last year, ONS stats placed that ratio at eight times wages.
The overall effect of these trends is that young people recognize that they will likely have to postpone dreams of retirement and instead strap on(绑住)more debt spread over longer spans.It’s why 44 per cent of under 30s say they expect to be working well into their 70s and why data this year from the Bank of England show that 16 per cent of UK mortgages(按揭贷款)now have terms of 35 years or more-a figure that has tripled in the past decade.
All of these factors look set to contribute to a workforce that has a significantly wider range of ages in the future.In an ra of work when we’ve all learned to be more inclusive,only eight per cent of firms with a diversity programme have adapted it to go beyond gender,race and sexuality and into age.Incorporating older employees into the workforce is set to be the next big thing at the office.
If Robert De Niro has anything to teach us,it’s that this can be an enormous force permanently for both employees and businesses.
1. The following may account for the ending of the three phases of working life EXCEPT_____.| A．a longer life |
| B．financial needs |
| C．delayed retirement policy |
| D．a meaningful life |
| A．is caused by |
| B．results in |
| C．is responsible for |
| D．gives birth to |
| A．They can live within their means. |
| B．Their life expectancy will be longer. |
| C．They will be richer than their parents. |
| D．They will fail to pay off their mortgage. |
| A．tell us Robert De Niro is a helpful retiree |
| B．indicate that retirees can also benefit society |
| C．share Robert De Niro’s second career with us |
| D．illustrate that retirees desire to live meaningfully |
| A．The new standards of the workplace. |
| B．Age being no hurdle in the modern world of work. |
| C．Financial issues facing both old people and young people. |
| D．Different attitudes to retirement between the young and old. |
【推荐1】According to the majority of Americans, women are as capable of being good political leaders as men. The same can be said of their ability to dominate the corporate boardroom(董事会). And according to a new Pew Research Center survey on women and leadership，most Americans find women not outstanding from men on key leadership quality such as intelligence and capacity for innovation with many saying they’re stronger than men in terms of being passionate and organized leaders.
So why, then, are women in short supply at the top of government and business in the United States? According to the public, at least, it’s not that they lack toughness, management talent or proper skill sets. It’s also not all about work-life balance. Although economic research and previous survey findings have shown that career interruptions related to motherhood may make it harder for women to advance in their careers and compete for top executive(管理的) jobs, relatively few adults in the recent survey point to this as a key barrier for women seeking leadership roles. Only about one-in-five say women’s family responsibilities are a major reason why there aren’t more females in top leadership positions in business and politics.
Instead, topping the list of reasons, about four-in-ten Americans point to a double standard for women seeking to climb to the highest levels of either politics or business, where they have to do more than their male colleagues to prove themselves. Similar shares say the electorate(选民)and corporate America are just not ready to put more women in top leadership positions.
As a result, the public is divided about whether the imbalance in corporate America will change in the foreseeable future, even though women have made major advances in the workplace. While 53% believe men will continue to hold more top executive positions in business in the future, 44% say it’s only a matter of time before as many women are in top executive positions as men. Americans are less doubtful when it comes to politics: 73% expect to see a female president in their lifetime.
1. What do we learn from previous survey findings about women seeking leadership roles?| A．They have unconquerable difficulties on their way to success. |
| B．They are lacking in confidence when competing with men. |
| C．Their failures may have something to do with family duties. |
| D．Relatively few are stopped in their career advancement. |
| A．Quality | B．Gender bias |
| C．Family responsibilities | D．lack of support |
| A．Respect | B．obey | C．follow | D．lead |
| A．A woman in the highest position of government. |
| B．More and more women actively engaged in politics. |
| C．A majority of women voting for a female president. |
| D．As many women in top government positions as men |
【推荐2】Robert Chmielewski has had quadriplegia (四肢瘫痪) since his teens. Sensors implanted (植入) in his brain read his thoughts to control two robotic arms, which helps him to perform daily tasks. Now he can use one robotic arm to control a knife and the other a fork.
Modern technology can reach inside someone’s head and pull out what he is thinking. Maybe he intends to move a robotic arm or type something on a computer screen. Such thought-controlled devices can help people who aren’t able to move or perform different tasks and promote the well-being of the disabled.
Decoding (解码) thought usually requires placing sensors directly on or in someone’s brain. Those implanted sensors can catch the electrical signals passing between the person’s brain cells, or neurons. Such signals carry messages that allow brains to think, feel and control the body.
Using brain implants, researchers have picked up electrical signals in the brain linked to certain words or letters. This has allowed brain implants to transform thoughts into text or speech on a computer. Likewise, brain implants have transformed imagined handwriting into text on a screen. Implanted sensors have even allowed scientists to turn the signals they caught that are associated with a song in someone’s head into real music.
In a recent study, scientists decoded full stories from people’s brains using MRI scans (磁共振成像扫描). This did not require any brain implants. But building the thought decoder did require many hours of brain scans for each person. What’s more, the system only worked on the person whose brain scans helped build it and only when that person was willing to have their mind read.
So devices that might let someone secretly read your mind from across the room are still a long, long way off. Still, it’s clear that mind-reading tech is getting more advanced. As it does, scientists are thinking hard about what it would mean to live in a world where not even the inside of your head is completely private.
1. What does the text begin with?| A．A suggestion. | B．A comparison. | C．An argument. | D．An example. |
| A．What principles a thought decoder should follow. |
| B．How MRI monitors the work of the implanted sensors. |
| C．What’s used to catch signals passing through the brain. |
| D．How robotic arms are designed to satisfy different needs. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Confident. | C．Doubtful. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Mind Reading is Stealing Our Privacy | B．Mind Reading is Hard, but not Impossible |
| C．Mind Reading—Good News for Musicians | D．Mind Reading—a Brain-scanning Technology |
【推荐3】Robotic surgery is one thing, but sending a robot inside the body to carry out an operation quite another, which has long been a goal of some researchers to produce tiny robotic devices being capable of traveling through the body to deliver drugs or to make repairs without the need for a single cut, the possibility of which has just got a bit closer.
However, unlike the plot of one film— which featured a microscopic crew and submarine traveling through a scientist’ s bloodstream— this device could not be inserted into blood vessels (管) because it is too big. While other types of miniature swallowable robots have been developed in the past, their role has mostly been limited to capturing images inside the body. In a presentation this week to the International Conference, Daniela Rus and Shuhei Miyashita of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described a robot they have developed that can be swallowed and used to collect dangerous objects accidentally taken in.
To test their latest version, Dr Rus and Dr Miyashita designed a robot as a battery hunter, which might seem to be an odd task, but more than 3,500 people in America alone, most of them children, swallow the tiny button cells used in small electronic devices by accident every year. To start with, the researchers created an artificial esophagus (食道) and stomach made out of silicone (硅胶). It was closely modeled on that found in a pig and filled with medical liquid; the robot itself is made from several layers of different materials, including pig intestine (肠), and contains a little magnet. This is folded up and encased in a 10mm×27mm capsule of ice. Once this reaches the stomach the ice melts and the robot unfolds which is moved and guided with the use of a magnetic field outside the body. In their tests, the robot was able to touch a button battery and draw it with its own magnet, and during dragging it along, the robot could then be directed towards the intestines where it would eventually be gotten rid of through the anus (肛门). After it, the researchers sent in another robot loaded with medication to deliver it to the site of the battery burn to speed up healing.
The artificial stomach being transparent on one side, the researchers were able to see the batteries and visually control the robots. If not, that will require the help from imaging system, which will be a bit more of a challenge, but Dr.Rus and Dr.Miyashita are determined to succeed.
1. The robot described by Dr.Rus and Dr. Miyashita is a breakthrough in that ______.| A．they can capture images inside the body |
| B．they can travel through the body to make repairs without a single cut |
| C．they can be swallowed and collect dangerous objects accidentally taken in |
| D．they can be inserted into blood vessels |
| A．It’s an odd task to design the robot as a battery hunter. |
| B．The experiment use artificial esophagus and stomach. |
| C．The actual size of the robot may be larger than the capsule of ice. |
| D．After the battery is removed, another robot will be needed to speed up heeling. |
| A．Few children will swallow the button cells. |
| B．Patients will suffer less for some surgeries. |
| C．Patients will no longer go through any operation. |
| D．The surgeries will cost patients much money. |
| A．It’s challenging but promising. | B．It’s challenging but successful. |
| C．It’s certain and successful. | D．It’s uncertain and hopeless. |
| A．The Robotic Voyage in Body | B．An Exploration of Robot |
| C．The Robotic Operation | D．An Experiment on Robot |
