Posture(姿势)plays an important part in health. Long-time poor posture can lead to pain and discomfort. It has also been shown that poor posture can increase the risk of disease. Solutions are needed to help people, especially students and office workers, change their posture to prevent these problems and improve their health. As a result, researchers have developed a smart fabric(织物).
People often sit in various poor postures in their daily life. This could be reduced if people were able to observe their real-time sitting posture by wearing the smart fabric. With the sitting position monitoring (监测)，users can watch their posture on the screen and make necessary changes.
The fabric was developed using TENGS, which can use movement of the wearer to collect the energy to power the posture monitoring sensor(传感器). The data collected by the sensors can provide immediate advice, warning the wearer when they need to change their posture. The fabric stretches easily and is washable and breathable. These factors are important for how people use the smart fabric, affecting the comfort of the wearable sensors and how well the fabric works.
In addition to the comfort of the fabric, another important aspect is the effectiveness of the posture monitoring. The sensors are fixed into the fabric in positions along the spines(脊椎), which can help collect data on the most common poor positions. The data is then sent to a machine, which processes key information telling how the wearer is sitting, classifying their sitting position, and monitoring how they correct their posture. This system is able to correctly recognizing the wearer’s posture most of the time.
With all these features, this monitoring clothing will help people avoid pain, discomfort, and long-term health problems. And it is believed this clothing will offer a reliable healthcare solution for long-term monitoring.
1. Why is the smart fabric developed?| A．To treat some spine diseases. |
| B．To change people’s working habits. |
| C．To help people correct their poor postures. |
| D．To start a new trend in the fashion industry. |
| A．It is self-powered. |
| B．It can be used as a charger. |
| C．It adapts to body movements. |
| D．It prevents people from sitting for long. |
| A．The advantages of the smart fabric. |
| B．The working process of the smart fabric. |
| C．The function of sensors in the smart fabric. |
| D．The ways of collecting data within the smart fabric. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Surprised, | C．Uncertain. | D．Supportive. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Zero-emission cars are soaring in popularity but running an electric vehicle is next to impossible in places with limited charging facilities. Stella Terra, the world’s first SUV solar-powered vehicle, could change that. It uses solar panels on its sloping roof to charge its electric battery, meaning it can drive long distances powered entirely by the sun.
“Built by a team of 22 students at Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE), it could help connect remote areas ‘where roads are less developed and electricity is not as reliable’, and assist with emergency aid and deliveries,” says Thieme Bosman, events manager for the team.
Electric SUVs are heavier than standard electric vehicles, and require bigger, heavier batteries to power them. “Where the SUV market currently innovates on the previous models, we really start from scratch and design everything ourselves,” says Bosman. Minimizing the vehicle’s weight was essential, and the team of 22 students focused on making every element extremely efficient.
The team tested the vehicle in Morocco earlier this month, driving more than 1,000 kilometers between the country’s northern coast and the Sahara Desert in the south. “Morocco has a huge variety of landscapes and different surfaces in quite a short distance,” says Bosman, adding that the car was tested on every type of surface that a car like this could encounter.
Bosman noted that the vehicle had proved to be one-third more efficient than expected on the trip, and that its lightweight design made it less likely to get stuck on rough ground, and put less stress on its suspension.
Bosman and his peers hope their concept SUV could be mass produced in the near future. “We aim to also inspire not only everyday people, but also the automotive industry, the Ford and Chryslers of the world, to think again about their designs and to innovate faster than they currently do,” says Bosman. “It’s up to the market now, which has the resources and the power to make this change and the switch to more sustainable vehicles.”
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To advertise Stella Terra. | B．To introduce the topic. |
| C．To state the background information. | D．To recommend solar panels. |
| A．Referring to previous models. | B．Making the most of each student. |
| C．Designing a bigger and efficient battery. | D．Reducing the weight of the car. |
| A．It ran smoothly on uneven ground. | B．It broke down after 1,000 kilometers. |
| C．It performed poorly on the Sahara Desert. | D．It performed better than expected. |
| A．It will be used by emergency services. |
| B．It consists of more sustainable designs. |
| C．It benefits places with insufficient electricity. |
| D．It has been accepted by automotive companies. |
【推荐2】Earlier this year, China achieved a new milestone(里程碑) in space exploration. On Jan 3, Chang’e 4 (嫦娥四号)became the first space probe(探测器) in history to successfully land on the far side (背面) of the moon. After a 26-day journey, it touched softly down on a crater. The whole process of landing (登陆过程)lasted 12 minutes, which opened a new page in history of mankind’s space exploration.
The far side of the moon is the side that we cannot see. We don’t know much about it. This landing is of great importance. The far side of the moon is an ideal(理想的) place for scientific research. It may have unique minerals(矿物质) and other resources. Scientists can make clearer observations of deep space from there.
Chang’e 4 has sent back photos of the far side of the moon. It is also being used to carry out experiments. The data(数据) collected from these experiments could be used to help us build a base on the moon in the future. The success of the Chang’e 4 mission(任务) is a major(重大的) achievement for China’s space program(项目).
China launched its lunar(月球的) exploration program in 2004, naming it Chang’e. Chinese scientists set three goals(目标)—“orbiting(环绕运行), landing and sample(样本) returning”. Chang’e 4 has realized the second goal. The third will be achieved during the Chang’e 5 mission, which is set to take place before the end of this year.
Following the success of the Chang’e missions, Chinese scientists are looking even farther into our solar system(太阳系). China’s first Mars mission is expected to be carried out by 2020.
1. What’s the most important about the landing place?| A．It’s far from the earth. | B．It has many resources. |
| C．It’s ideal for scientific research. | D．It’s dark and unknown. |
| A．学习 | B．观察 | C．描述 | D．庆祝 |
| A．Landing on the moon. | B．Bringing some samples back to the earth. |
| C．Building a base on the moon. | D．Traveling around the moon. |
| A．The Space Probe. | B．Exploring the Moon. |
| C．The Three Goals. | D．Exploring the Mars. |
【推荐3】Scientists have come up with a new way of identifying animals in an area — by testing DNA sucked out of the air. The researchers believe their new method could help scientists keep track of animals that are hard to spot, including endangered animals.
Two teams of scientists — one in Denmark and one in the United Kingdom — came up with the same question at about the same time: Could they identify the animals in an area from DNA that was simply floating in the air?
Testing for eDNA (“environmental” DNA) isn’t a new idea, but most of the time，scientists look for eDNA in water. DNA in the air is usually so small that it would take a microscope to see it. The scientists didn’t have high hopes for their experiment.
Neither team knew that the other group was working on a similar experiment. One collected samples from different locations at Denmark’s Copenhagen Zoo, and the other at Hamerton Zoo Park in the UK. The scientists used slightly different methods to collect their samples. But basically, both teams used vacuums (真空装置) and fans to collect extremely tiny bits of DNA onto very high quality filters (过滤器).
In the laboratory, they got the DNA from the filters and made copies of it to study. By comparing their samples with examples of DNA from different animals, the scientists were able to identify many different animals at the zoos.
The researchers in Denmark identified 49 different kinds of animals. The team in the UK identified 25 different kinds of animals. They even identified DNA from animals that were inside sealed buildings
Each team only discovered the other experiment after they had written a paper about their own results. Instead of competing, the two decided to combine their results and publish a paper together.
Both teams are excited about the ways this new method could be used in the wild. Scientists have been looking for better ways to track endangered animals without interfering with them. If researchers know where animals live, they can do a better job of protecting them. “The next step is to figure out how to take this method into nature,” says Dr. Bohmann.
1. What was the scientists’ attitude towards their experiment initially?| A．Hopeful | B．Doubtful | C．Disappointed | D．Satisfied |
| A．They knew each other very well before. |
| B．Both of them are from the same country. |
| C．Their research methods were not exactly the same. |
| D．They identified DNA from nearly 70 kinds of animals in total. |
| A．It increases human interaction with wildlife. |
| B．It enables the two teams to compete in science. |
| C．It could help people escape from dangerous animals. |
| D．It could help protect endangered animals in a better way. |
| A．A Groundbreaking Way to Protect Animals |
| B．DNA of Animals in the UK and Denmark |
| C．Scientists Identify Animals by DNA in the Air |
| D．Two Experimental Teams Doing the Same Thing |
【推荐1】Musk, Hawking, Gates — the tech giants have redoubled their warnings about how we could destroy ourselves with technology. But they’re not talking about deliberately pushing buttons to trigger disaster. They mean accidentally killing ourselves with something that we invent for our benefit.
It’s a little embarrassing to have to admit that accidental deaths are increasing in a world that our ancestors made safer for hundreds of years. Our grandparents saw the invention of the automobile, the bulldozer (推土机) and so on, and they made them all safer. However, nowadays, we put a smartphone on every hand, and now more than 1000 distraction-related crashes happen on our roads every day. Kids and pets die of heatstroke (中暑) inside cars — we are on track to set a new record for hot car deaths in 2021. We may not have to worry about AI, but our innovations are quietly outpacing our ability.
We place blind trust in complex systems that reveal little about how they work. It seems that we have superhuman abilities, and consumers seem willing to play along. They drive at a speed of 80 mph with a phone and a cup of coffee, and they are proud of their multitasks. Sure, other people on phones are dangerous, but you can smoothly switch your attention and notice when any emergency occurs, right?
When we misjudged a situation in the past, we got immediate feedback. But technology can place the consequences of our missteps at a distance. Delayed reactions, complex chain reactions —these are all part of how technology works. But having adapted to a world of new inventions, we are crazy about driverless cars, seldom stopping to consider what could go wrong later down the road. Worse still, technology is even hacking our feedback system. We get excited when we check our phone while driving. Edith Harbaugh, whose company, Launch Darkly, specializes in the controlled release of new technology into the wild, pointed out that we’re creating a dangerously unbalanced system of actions and rewards: “We are not given ice creams every time we do something safe.”
So it is too late to worry about threatening technology, which is upon us. The modern world is breaking everything we know about staying safe. If we have any hope of staying alive with the rise of the machines, we are going to need to learn to survive the things we have today.
1. Why is the warning of tech giants mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．To give a definition. | B．To highlight their wisdom. |
| C．To offer background information. | D．To introduce the topic. |
| A．We trust complex systems blindly. |
| B．We create too many inventions. |
| C．Our ability cannot keep pace with the innovations. |
| D．Technology can’t give us feedback immediately. |
| A．The rise of the machines. | B．The destruction of the world. |
| C．The measures to deal with the problem. | D．The worries about threatening technology. |
| A．Technology is killing us | B．Technology is benefiting us |
| C．How should we survive technology | D．How should we deal with technology |
【推荐2】A disease called “Panama” is threatening supplies of the world’s most popular fruit – banana. Two years ago, the United Nations warned that the “Panama disease” could destroy “much of the world’s banana crop.” Since then, things have not gotten better. A new outbreak was discovered last year in Australia. The disease started in Asia in the 1990s, and later spread to Africa and the Middle East.
World health officials worry the disease could travel to Latin America, one of the top banana producers in the world. All this is a big concern because bananas are an important source of income and nutrients for millions of people. They are grown in 135 tropical nations. The United Nations lists bananas as one of the most important foods, along with rice, wheat and corn. In 2011, farmers produced 107 metric tons, the UN said. The website ultimatesuperfoods.org says bananas also contain serotonin, which it says makes people feel happy. “No matter who you are, you’ll enjoy the calming effects and positive vibes,” the website says of the banana. Concern in the banana industry
Randy Ploetz is a professor at the Tropical Research & Educational Center at the University of Florida. Many consider him as America’s top banana expert, or, “top banana.” As he explained, Panama disease affects the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish is one of more than 500 kinds of bananas. But it is the most popular.
“The industry is waking up to the problem,” Ploetz said. “They are pretty scared.” He was speaking Thursday by telephone from Miami, Florida, where he is among 1,000 people attending the International Banana Congress. The meeting was supposed to take place in Costa Rica, but was moved at the last minute. There were concerns banana growers could spread Panama disease from dirt collected on their shoes, Ploetz said.
Ploetz said reports Cavendish banana production could end are not correct. But if the disease spreads to Latin America, it could hurt the world’s economy along with food supplies for millions of people.
Still, he said there is reason for hope. Scientists in Australia are working on a genetically engineered banana that might not be at risk of getting Panama disease. But Ploetz wondered if people are ready to accept genetically engineered bananas.
Robert Bertram is chief scientist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He said bananas are important to many millions of people all over the world. “In Africa, Asia and tropical America, bananas and plantains are an important food source for more than 100 million people,” he told VOA. “As a cash crop, bananas are sold in local, regional and international markets,” Bertram said. Banana exports provide jobs and foreign money that producing countries need, he said.
Bertram said USAID is organizing a worldwide effort to stop the growth of Panama disease. A fungus, known as TR4, causes the Panama disease.
1. What makes World health officials worried about the disease?| A．Making the banana disappear. |
| B．Spreading to another continent. |
| C．No effective medicine. |
| D．No ways to stop it spreading. |
| A．He is considered to be the best scientist studying banana in America. |
| B．He helps farmers grow various bananas. |
| C．He found more than 500 kinds of bananas. |
| D．He will find a better way to protect bananas. |
| A．Using clone technology to kill the disease. |
| B．Inventing new medicine to prevent the disease. |
| C．Looking for effective ways to make banana healthy. |
| D．Developing a new type of banana free of the disease. |
| A．Scientists Try to Protect Banana Trees. |
| B．Disease Spreads Quickly to Latin America.. |
| C．Disease Threatens Word Banana Supplies. |
| D．Banana Plays an Important Role in Economy. |
【推荐3】Contemporary (当代的) art has been greatly influenced by the rapid development in digital technology and by the new, more attractive and tougher materials that artists can work with. Both these innovations (新事物) have opened new artistic fields. They have also allowed contemporary artists to reduce time spent making artwork to a minimum, thus freeing them to focus more on creativity and developing new ideas, as well as sound preparation for artwork.
In the past, painting and drawing depended on the artist’s skills in using his traditional tools — the pencil, brushes, or chalks. The artist, through traditional steps, was in control of the color, the degrees of the different shades, or the realism of his works of art. Artists today operate with clicks of the mouse, video tools and digital colors.
The various options now available to artists through new technologies may sometimes have a dangerously negative effect because they offer the artists means of expression that they never imagined were possible. Faced with so many options, the artist may be confused and these emotions are immediately reflected in his works. His artwork may become increasingly lacking in imagination or spirit. There is no doubt that the human touch in the classical school of painting had a major influence on the shape of the painting and the effect of the tools, particularly when an artist used his or her fingers to place the special effects and touches on his or her work. Today’s modern technology has, however, reduced the need for the human artistic touch. Computer-oriented artists sometimes produce masterpieces by accident. Consequently, the artwork upon completion may be entirely different from the artist’s original thought of the painting.
Contemporary artists are facing increasingly more complicated challenges to present special artwork. That’s because many recent technological advances have expanded and diversified (使多样化) the art world. Clearly, artists today find it more challenging than ever to present original and innovative ideas, and they need to stretch their imagination to succeed.
1. What is the main benefit of modern technology to contemporary artists?| A．It frees them from some confusing options. |
| B．It enables them to create higher-quality paintings. |
| C．It allows them to spend less time on preparations. |
| D．It makes them pay more attention to artistic creation. |
| A．By referring to experts’ words. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By analyzing past studies. |
| D．By listing data. |
| A．They rely heavily on the human touch. |
| B．They help people to recognize a new field. |
| C．They may fail to present their intended meaning. |
| D．They show new skill at using traditional painting tools. |
| A．Advances in technology place higher demands on artists. |
| B．Traditional artistic methods are facing great challenges. |
| C．Today’s artists must master digital technology. |
| D．Contemporary artists are more imaginative. |
| A．The benefits of using new technology |
| B．The role of art in promoting society |
| C．The great achievements of contemporary artists |
| D．The impact of modern technology on art and artists |
【推荐1】In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.
1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may_______.| A．cause a shortage of apartments |
| B．worry those who rent apartments as homes |
| C．increase the profits of landlords |
| D．encourage landlords to invest in building apartment |
| A．will always benefit those who rent apartments |
| B．is unnecessary |
| C．will bring negative effects in the long run |
| D．is necessary under all circumstances |
| A．if the minimum wage is set too high |
| B．if the minimum wage is set too low |
| C．if the workers are unskilled |
| D．if the maximum wage is set |
| A．The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted. |
| B．Minimum wage can not always protect employees. |
| C．Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing. |
| D．Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory. |
【推荐2】My colleagues and I investigated the presence of the “musical reminiscence bump(音乐记忆突点)” in a group of 470 adults who were between 18 and 82 years old. Our aim was to investigate how a person’s age when a song was popular affected three related but distinct concepts: the degree to which the song was associated with autobiographical memories, how familiar the song was and how much they liked the song.
Participants in our study were shown the titles and artists of 111 pop songs across a 65-year period (1950-2015) and provided ratings of the three concepts of interest.
We discovered that music during one’s adolescence was not only rated as more familiar, but was also associated with more autobiographical memories. This music-related reminiscence bump reached the highest around age 14. In addition, older adults (around age 40+) also liked songs from their adolescence more than other songs. However, younger adults (aged 18 — 40) did not show this same trend, and in some cases gave even lower liking ratings to music from their adolescence than music released before they were born.
This suggests that songs from our adolescence can become closely related with memories from our past even if we don’t personally value the music. This may be because it has accompanied various memorable settings from this period.
Some songs were preferred regardless of a participant’s age, however. For instance, we saw a general increase in how much people liked songs from the late 1970s to early 1980s, even in participants who weren’t yet born during that time period. This suggests pop music from certain time periods is intergenerationally valued. Examples of songs we used from this time period include Hotel California by the Eagles and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.
1. Participants in the investigation are ________.| A．expected to comment on the songs | B．to test the three concepts of songs |
| C．ranging in ages from a kid to a senior | D．provided the titles and singers of the songs |
| A．People listen to songs less after this age. |
| B．People’s preferences of songs divide at this age. |
| C．People get most memories from songs of this age. |
| D．People at this age begin to have autobiographical memories. |
| A．Some songs keep alive beyond time. |
| B．Years around 1980 are a golden age for music. |
| C．The memorable situation of a song decides its popularity. |
| D．Hotel California and Billie Jean are adored across nations. |
| A．Music changes our life |
| B．Everyone is a follower of songs |
| C．We’re crazy about music from our youth |
| D．Songs possess the unique features of a time |
June 15 - September 15
Saturday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Regular Hours
January 1 - June 14 and September 16 - December 31
Saturday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Individual Ticket Prices
| Venues | Adult（12＋） | Senior（60＋） | Child（3 - 11） | Group（at least 3 persons） |
| Exhibit | Halls | Exhibit | Halls | Exhibit |
Exhibits:
◆ A Bird’s World
This exhibit includes a sample of every bird found in New England. It provides a lot of information about bird behavior, and New England birdwatchers will also find a useful bird “dictionary”. With this, you can learn how to understand the bird language you hear being chirped just outside your window at home.
◆Butterfly Garden
This garden offers a wonderful chance to get close to all kinds of living butterflies from New England and across the world. You can also look inside the “Emergence Box” to see hanging chrysalids（蝶蛹）change into adult butterflies. If you’re lucky, you might see a new butterfly crawl out of its casing.
◆Discovery Center
Designed for children under 8 and their parents, the Discovery Center offers lots of fun, hands - on activities that are designed to help them discover through playing. A perfect area for early learners, this educational environment emphasizes the use of real objects for exploring natural history, physical science, and technology topics.
◆Take a Closer kook
Explore the world around you using sight, hearing, touch and smell. Test yourself to see what you can discover when you pay attention to your senses, and learn how technology extends them.
1. If you visit the exhibits on a Wednesday in August, you can stay there until ________.
| A．3 pm | B．8 pm | C．9 pm | D．5 pm |
| A．$60.00 | B．$80.00 |
| C．$20.00 | D．$68.00 |
| A．Take a Closer Look | B．Butterfly Garden |
| C．Discovery Center | D．A Bird’s World |
| A．a sight - seeing park | B．a science park |
| C．a training center | D．an art center |
