Nao, a small robot, looks like a person. If Nao begged you not to shut it off, what would you do? Would you follow its wishes?
Scientists did a study to see how people treat robots that act like people. Eighty-nine people volunteered for the study. They were asked to help to improve Nao’s social skills by finishing two tasks with it.
The tasks with the robot didn’t matter, though. What the scientists really wanted to see was how the participants (参与者) reacted once the tasks were over. They were asked to talk with Nao and finally shut Nao off but it was not easy to do. Some people did not want to turn the robot off while others take a long time to do it.
People often communicate with non-human objects such as TVs and computers nowadays. But robots seem more human than TVs. Robots can show social characters themselves, like speaking with human voices or taking the shape of a human body. Scientists said people might have seen Nao’s cries as a sign of independent thought. In turn, this could have led people to see the robot as having human-like characters. For thousands of years, humans have lived in a world where they are the only ones who could have conversations, the study said. Our brains have learned to react to social situations in a certain way. But our brains are not used to telling the difference between the real people and fake people. The robot expresses feelings and desires, which gets people to want to treat the robot as if it was alive.
1. What’s the purpose of the study?A.To test how fast human-like robots do tasks. |
B.To improve human-like robots’ facial expressions. |
C.To invent human-like robots to keep people company. |
D.To learn how people might respond to human-like robots. |
A.They had feelings for Nao. |
B.They refused Nao’s requests. |
C.They shut Nao off immediately. |
D.They praised Nao’s social skills. |
A.Not active. | B.Not tall. | C.Not real. | D.Not smart. |
A.healthy lifestyles | B.popular science |
C.sport events | D.successful people |
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【推荐1】Zea Tongeman, a 14-year-old student, who is crazy about the Internet, applied technology to create an application that encourages people to recycle rubbish while having fun.
Zea was really inspired when she attended “Little Miss Geek Day”, an event that aims at making technology more accessible and appealing to young women and inspiring them to consider technology careers. Soon after, she entered “Apps for Good”, a competition that encourages students to create positive change through technology. Teaming up with her friend, Jordan Stirbu, she laid the foundations for the “Jazzy Recycling”.
The “Jazzy Recycling” application is designed to encourage young people to recycle rubbish more, which wins the favour of the youth. It turns waste disposal into a game and helps you find places to recycle it. Then you scan what you need to recycle, share it, and get rewards such as shopping vouchers (代币券) and games to be unlocked for what you have recycled.
Tapping into the teen enthusiasm for sharing every little aspect of their daily lives on social media, recycling efforts can be shared too as a fun game among friends, which can make more people take part in recycling activities.
Zea explains why she is addicted to the Internet and how technology has changed her ideas about the future, “I used to think technology was just fixing computers and using smartphones; I have become very tired of just using what is available. I have discovered another side of it and that I can make technology of my own.”
In fact, Zea Tongeman has taken the idea of recycling seriously and hopes all her fellow human beings would give it a serious thought. This teen girl from the United Kingdom has made use of computer programming to create her own app that would encourage people to go recycling for a better world.
1. What is “Little Miss Geek Day” intended to do?A.To inspire students to go recycling. | B.To encourage students to create more. |
C.To introduce some famous young ladies. | D.To get girls interested and involved in technology. |
A.It combines recycling with fun. | B.It offers money to those who recycle rubbish. |
C.It raises their awareness of waste disposal. | D.It provides varieties of convenient services. |
A.Brave. | B.Honest. | C.Creative. | D.Kind. |
A.Teenagers have a talent for creating apps. |
B.Technology plays a significant role in education. |
C.Competitions inspire teenagers to achieve success. |
D.Young people can make a difference in their own ways. |
【推荐2】They go up and they go down. They take people from one floor of a building to the exact same spot on another floor. A new technology will break elevators free from their vertical (垂直的) prisons, allowing them to move side to side, at an angle (角度), even go outside into a city. German company Thyssenkrupp has developed a new kind of elevator that uses maglev (磁悬浮) technology to move elevator cabins. Called Multi, these elevators are no longer limited to a single vertical path.
A funny thing happens when elevators can go anywhere. Tall buildings, which are designed to work around elevators, can start taking on different shapes. They can go wide, add towers or go in unusual directions, and make room for green spaces that otherwise would have been an inconvenience. A single elevator can run from the east side of the first floor to the far west side of the 30th, no transferring or walking necessary. It gets even more interesting when an elevator leaves the building. Patrick Bass, Thyssenkrupp’s North America CEO, has worked in the elevator industry for 26 years. He thinks these elevators will create new transportation networks to support the cities of the future. As more people go into cities, there’s a renewed interest in creating energy efficient spaces. Moving people around quickly is a huge part of that.
He imagines Multi working perfectly with other Thyssenkrupp technology like the Accel moving walkway. Accel, which also uses maglev technology, speeds up after you step on and can go twice the speed of a regular moving walkway. It was the first use of maglev technology outside of a train. The Accel is already in use in some cities now.
1. Compared with traditional elevators, Multi can __________.A.go more smoothly | B.go in any directions |
C.go up and down freely | D.go directly from floor to floor |
A.They will hold more people. |
B.They will become much higher. |
C.They will be in different shapes. |
D.They will be connected to one another. |
A.They save space in cities. |
B.They help avoid the rush hours. |
C.They help people save money. |
D.They help move people around quickly. |
A.To show how Multi works. |
B.To show the importance of the Accel. |
C.To tell us other products by Thyssenkrupp. |
D.To explain the wide use of maglev technology. |
【推荐3】Keeping our environment clean, especially our waterways, is something everyone can agree on. That’s why people take part in the beach cleanup and work so hard to remove plastics from our oceans.
But sometimes things that come to pass can undo all of these efforts. One of the worst things that can happen to our oceans is an oil spill. Cleaning up after a spill has always been a costly and lasting process that often harms wildlife and further damages the sea environment. But now researchers at Northwestern University have developed a smart sponge to clean up oil spills in the ocean.
This new method is designed to absorb oil, leaving the clean water behind without influencing sea wildlife. Previous methods included removing oil from the surface, burning oil, and using absorbent materials. “Each method has its own disadvantages and none of them are green solutions,” Gondwana, a senior research associate said. “Our sponge can absorb these spills in a more economic, efficient and eco-friendly manner than any of the previous solutions.”
The secret of how the new sponge can selectively absorb only the oil lies in a coating of a special material that can be used to cover any ordinary sponge. All you have to do is apply a thin coating of the material to the sponge and let it dry before use. It’s really simple to change an ordinary sponge into a smart sponge. And the new sponge can absorb up to 30 times its own weight in oil. Moreover, it is reusable up to a dozen times.
The researchers even came up with a plan to better exploit the new sponge. Gondwana said, “The new sponge will come in large sheets that are rolled. While there are no limitations in the size, a width of 2-3 feet is enough. The new sponge can be used on a beach or in the ocean after an oil spill.”
1. How does the author consider the work of cleaning up oil spills?A.Difficult and meaningless. | B.Challenging and costly. |
C.Significant but fruitless. | D.Boring but rewarding. |
A.Traditional solutions contribute a lot to sea protection. |
B.The previous methods of cleaning up oil spills are unsatisfying. |
C.Oil pollution is the main reason for the unbalanced ecosystem in the ocean. |
D.The new method fails to meet the requirement of a green environment. |
A.It makes no use of the ordinary sponge. | B.It relies on water to form a coating. |
C.It enjoys excellent absorption capacity. | D.It does some harm to sea wildlife. |
【推荐1】The warm months have arrived, bringing with them longer days and the promise of new family memories to be made. Centrally located and naturally beautiful, Arkansas is the ideal location for all types of families. As you begin planning your next family adventure, keep these top destinations in mind:
Blanchard Springs Caverns: Located in northern Arkansas’ Ozark National Forest, Blanchard Springs Caverns is a living cave constantly growing and changing. This attraction features beautiful views of the cave’s formations, an underground river and the world’s largest flowstone. With a year-round temperature of 58 degrees, it’s a great place to explore during hot weather season. |
Garvan Woodland Gardens & Treehouse: Sitting in southwest Arkansas, the attractive botanical (植物学的) gardens represent Arkansas at its best. Garvan Woodland Gardens provides an unforgettable escape to the paradise. The gardens also feature an engaging Children’s Adventure Garden, including a uniquely modern treehouse designed to teach children about nature through engaging and interactive exhibits. |
Johnny Cash Boyhood Home: Fans of American music icon Johnny Cash are invited to explore the 11-mile stretch of music greatness on Highway 67 in eastern Arkansas where Cash and other artists such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis started their careers. Visitors will also have the chance to see Cash’s restored childhood home in Dyess, which was featured in the film Walk the Line. |
Crater (火山口) of Diamonds State Park: Located in Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public. Visitors get a true experience — the adventure of hunting for real diamonds in the park’s 37-acre field that is the surface of the world’s eighth largest diamond-bearing volcanic crater. The park also includes five walk-in tent sites with free Wi-Fi, a gift shop, and a play pool for visitors of all ages. |
A.Escape from the paradise. | B.Purchase some exhibits. |
C.Do some nature exploration. | D.Tour a traditional treehouse. |
A.Blanchard Springs Caverns. | B.Johnny Cash Boyhood Home. |
C.Crater of Diamonds State Park. | D.Garvan Woodland Gardens & Treehouse. |
A.provide some travel tips for children | B.list the locations of some tourist spots |
C.explain the benefits of family adventure | D.recommend tourist destinations for families |
【推荐2】Today, we are told children don’t spend enough time in the fresh air. Many of them are addicted to a screen either on a computer or a TV—they seem to be living in a virtual world. They have lost touch with nature.
But now 400 organizations in the UK, from playgroups to the National Health Service, are encouraging children to have some “wild time”. They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside. Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide-and-seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city, they can go on adventures in the garden or the park.
Children often need a helping hand from their mums and dads. They need to be shown what to do and where to go. Andy Simpson from the National Health Service says, “We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids’ development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a go.”
So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now, it seems that going back to basics and experiencing “nature’s playground” is what modern children need. David Bond from Project Wild Thing says, “We need to make more space for wild time in children’s daily routine, freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted.”
This might sound a bit old-fashioned to you but there’s no age limit on enjoying yourself!
1. Except what are children encouraged to do the following activities?A.Building dens. | B.Climbing trees. |
C.Playing hide-and-seek. | D.Watching TV. |
A.Wild time is hard to design. | B.Wild time is beneficial for children. |
C.Parents know the importance of wild time. | D.Parents like keeping their children indoors. |
A.Modern children need wild time. | B.Adults value outdoor activities. |
C.The present world is complicated. | D.This generation of kids have no freedom. |
A.Wild time for children | B.Benefits of wild time |
C.More space for children | D.Adventures of children |
【推荐3】How to keep a good figure may be important to you. In fact, your house may have an effect on your figure. Experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off. You can make your environment work for you instead of against you.
Open the curtains and turn up the lights. Dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating, for people are often less self-conscious(自觉的)when they're in poorly lit places-and so more likely to eat lots of food. If your home doesn't have enough window light, get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.
Mind the colors. Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites(食欲). In one study, people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room. Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing, while cold colors make us feel less hungry. So when it's time to repaint, go blue.
Don't forget the clock-or the radio. People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories per meal than those who rush through their meals. Begin keeping track of the time, and try to make dinner last at least 30 minutes. And while you're at it, actually sit down to eat. If you need some help to decelerate, turn on relaxing music. It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.
Downsize the dishes. Big serving bowls and plates can easily make us fat. We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate. When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one, total intake jumps by 14 percent. And we'll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short, wide glass than a tall, skinny glass.
1. People in bright house will .A.eat less food | B.digest food better |
C.have good feelings | D.be less conscious |
A.Put up. | B.Slow down. | C.Give in. | D.Go up. |
A.Eating slowly helps consume more calories. |
B.Cold color can help increase people's appetite. |
C.Fast music can do better to people at mealtimes. |
D.People had better use small size plates to keep in shape. |
A.Effects of Putting on Music | B.Ways to Make Room Relaxing |
C.How to Make Home Help With Diets | D.Importance of Keeping Healthy |