Whenever I get really depressed and anxious, my first impulse is to reach for my phone. Maybe I’ll get a message from a friend or discover some new distraction on social media. Unfortunately, during the past couple of years, one glance at my screen often makes me want to crawl back into bed.
That changed after I made friends with a strange creature named Webot. I’m finding that it makes me feel better-and it might work for you too. Like many apps, Webot sends me messages at random. But instead of tempting me into doom scrolling with shocking news alerts, Webot asks how I’m doing. When I text Webot my troubles, it asks me friendly questions, encourages me, and invites me to express some of my darkest thoughts. There is something intensely comforting about discussing your thoughts with a machine.
There are many therapy apps on the market, both free (like Webot) and paid for. But Webot is a particularly interesting case. Psychology researcher Alison Darcy at Stanford University created it after years of study. She says it was challenging on both a technical and artistic level because the chatbot is a character with its own personality. “It’s as careful a construction as you might find in a novel or poetry. Webot’s personality is humble, warm and wise, ”as Darcy puts it, “Webot isn’t an all-knowing authority. It is a mental health ally”.
Best of all, Webot is always there, even when I’m lying awake in the middle of the night. That’s exactly the point, according to Darcy. “Your therapist should not be in bed with you at 2 a. m,“ she laughs. But Webot can be. You can pull up Webot at the exact moment you need it most.
It is working. Last year, Darcy and her colleagues published a study showing that people like me are forming “bonds” with Webot. Bonding is a “meaningful“ process of “getting something off your chest, or managing your thoughts more objectively”.
And you know what? In the bizarre world of 2023, it might be healthier to bond with a robot than be “engaged“ on social media.
1. What does the underlined word “That” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．I lost interest in my phone. |
| B．I was tired of social media. |
| C．My phone didn’t understand my impulse. |
| D．My phone didn’t help me feel any better. |
| A．It bonds with me through social media. |
| B．It is a creature that makes me feel better. |
| C．It communicates with me and offers comfort. |
| D．It is a therapist helping me manage my thoughts. |
| A．Because it can build mental connection with us. |
| B．Because it is free and has a favorable personality. |
| C．Because it is carefully constructed in a novel or poetry. |
| D．Because it can keep us informed of shocking news alert. |
| A．To urge us to quit social media. |
| B．To show us the functions of Webot. |
| C．To propose us interacting with Webot. |
| D．To encourage us to share our thoughts. |
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【推荐1】A number of Americans predict that driver-less cars will revolutionize the form of travelling in cities and on highways However, recent experiments have shown that autonomous vehicles also have the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans, especially the elderly and disabled, so long as the government and lawmakers carry out smart policies
A retirement community in Alabama which has been transformed by a small group of driverless taxis shows the potential of self-driving cars to change people's lives in America. Although the modified Ford Fusions are currently limited to a two-mile road, residents are already having the benefits of them to take part in social activities which they would otherwise be unable to enjoy simply because they could not get to them.
When the experimental run finally reaches 15 miles of road, these residents whose average age is 77 will also have a convenient and reliable new way to keep their appointments. Because these cars continue to serve residents there, it is not difficult to understand why California is gradually simplifying regulations for the business.
In New Jersey, ahead-thinking policies have the potential to unlock other hidden benefits of autonomous vehicles, especially for those with physical disabilities. The New Jersey Disability Righted for the development of this technology, saying that it could give people with disabilities greater opportunities in the workforce and enable them to lead more satisfying and independent lives.
Many Americans admit that autonomous vehicles will be the future of transportation, but it is too often overlooked that this future cannot arrive fast enough for millions of Americans on others for day-to-day travel. The policymakers should follow the lead of places like California and New Jersey, and pass regulations to unlock these hidden benefits of driverless cars.
1. What's the attitude of most American people to the future of autonomous vehicles?| A．Uncertain. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．What are preventing the development of the technology. |
| B．Why driverless cars are restricted in many states in America. |
| C．How driverless technology benefits the aged and disabled. |
| D．When driverless cars can enter people's life eventually. |
| A．The concept of autonomous vehicles has been widely recognized. |
| B．The weak groups are often overlooked despite technology advances. |
| C．The benefits of driverless cars have been fully unlocked. |
| D．Regulations should go hand in hand with driverless technology. |
【推荐2】Salvador Dali wasn’t exactly modest (谦逊的). And he’ll tell you so, too, face to face at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Here, the Spanish surrealist (超现实主义者) is alive and well, ready to talk to you in person about his art.
Well, sort of. This Dali is brought to life through the magic of artificial intelligence (人工智能). It’s a newly opened exhibition (展览) called "Dali Lives", and it is spread across the whole Dali Museum, which houses more than 2,000 Dali works in about 20,000 square feet of exhibit space. Three video boards showing a life-size Dali, standing 5’8” tall, form the exhibit — one at the museum gate, one on the third floor by the main exhibits (including Dali’s paintings and photographs, two technologically treated paintings allowing visitors to put themselves inside the paintings, and a special experience of "walking" through Dali’s 1934 painting "Archeological Reminiscence of Millet’s Angelus") and one in the gift shop on the way out. Each one offers a different experience when you push a doorbell on the board to get Dali’s attention.
The most surprising thing about "Dali Lives" is that you’re dealing with a version (版本) of the artist himself. It looks like Dali, it sounds like Dali, it is Dali. The museum worked together with the San Francisco advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners to achieve this, feeding hundreds of news interviews and words from his written works into an artificial intelligence system to recreate the artist. The result was a living, moving version of Dali ready to converse with anyone there, answering their questions.
"Dali himself was at the forefront of technology and was always experimenting with and trying new things,"says Beth Bell, marketing director at the Dali Museum. "We think he would have loved these types of things. It’s in the spirit of Dali himself."
1. What can we know about Dali from the text?| A．He was a modest surrealist. | B．He once lived in St. Petersburg. |
| C．He produced lots of works of art. | D．He came up with the idea of “Dali Lives”. |
| A．Learn painting skills. | B．Get a surprising gift from Dali. |
| C．Watch lots of interviews with Dali. | D．Enjoy the magic of modern technology. |
| A．Live. | B．Talk. | C．Play. | D．Work. |
| A．The use of artificial intelligence. | B．The works of Salvador Dali. |
| C．An exhibition called “Dali Lives.” | D．The life of Salvador Dali. |
【推荐3】Located at Europe’s biggest water park, the Galaxy Erding in South Germany, the world’s first VR water slide takes the exciting experience to a whole new level by offering thrill-seekers the choice of three attractive worlds —Space, Sky, or Snow. By simply wearing a headset, riders can slide through a magical alien world, follow beautiful butterflies around floating islands or put themselves in a white winter wonderland. To make the experience even more heart-stopping, the 160-meter-long ride that lasts about 35 seconds has two uphill tracks that provide a roller-coaster-like experience.
While the tire slide, which has been successfully tested by almost 10,000 park goers since it opened in February 2018, is impressive, the technology behind it, developed by California startup Ballast is even more so. The specially-created waterproof headsets can be worn in water up to a few meters deep, without harming the delicate Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile devices that run the custom software for the VR experiences. The headsets also charge wirelessly (无线地), allowing park operators to swap out sets throughout the day.
The biggest challenge the company faced, however, was providing a suitable VR experience for everyone. That’s because unlike roller coasters, where the speed is fixed for all riders, water slide speeds vary depending on the weight of the person. To overcome the issue, Ballast fixed smart sensors (传感器) in important areas along the slide to keep track of the rider’s progress at all times. The information, conveyed through the headset, allows the custom software to adjust his or her location within the virtual world accordingly, making for a smooth, seasickness free ride for all.
Though Ballast is thrilled at Space Glider’s success, the company has bigger ambitions. They want to create an experience where guests will be able to swim underwater surrounded by virtual dolphins, whales, and even sharks, without wearing the heavy headsets!
1. What can people do if they go to the Galaxy Erding?| A．They can swim with dolphins. |
| B．They can explore the outer space. |
| C．They can experience VR water slide. |
| D．They can swap out sets all day long. |
| A．The tire slide has been successfully tested so far. |
| B．Water slide speed vary depending on the age of the person. |
| C．Thrill-seekers take the exciting experience by wearing a headset. |
| D．The specially-created waterproof headsets can be applied in water. |
| A．The painkillers. |
| B．The fixed speed. |
| C．A sensor fixed in important areas. |
| D．Virtual dolphins, whales and sharks. |
| A．totally against |
| B．sorry to see |
| C．in favor of |
| D．neutral (中立) about |
【推荐1】I am rather good at using maps. But I forgot the maps and here we were, late afternoon, last day of holiday, my daughter, my cousin and I, driving along a two-lane highway in Oregon. No other car in sight, and the sun had just gone down. Where was that sweet little village?
It was supposed to be right along this river. We drove on, farther into the unknown river always at left as our guide. We kept passing farms and fields and now a few lights were coming out. In my head, I was doing a lot of self-criticism: Why didn’t we start earlier, bring the map and so on? My cousin and I were both impatient and stressed. My daughter, at least, was happy in the back seat, texting a friend. I pulled up on the shoulder of the road to think.
Just the — Wow! Amazing! A new scene appeared. Where did it come from?
Right there, out of nowhere: a magical misty landscape. Fields stretched in silent purple, with rows of tall trees, darkening in the dusk. I turned the car engine off. All was silent in the hot summer air. Beside us, a plum-covered river hardly moved between a border of trees, its dark lazy water reflecting the last light of day.
How breathtaking! Where had it been? If I had seen even a bit of beauty while driving along, I could have stopped and taken a look. I had missed it all.
We miss a lot, almost everything, in fact, in our world. Our task-focused filters (过滤器) takes care of that, selecting only what we need. We need to get to work. Have some lunch. We see what we need to see, often for purposes of survival. Gregory Bateson, speaking of beauty, said the judgment is selection of a fact. In our daily lives, who or what is doing the selecting? Can we make a change? Can we see further?
1. Which of the following might be the destination of the author’s driving?| A．Her own home. | B．A destination of her holiday. |
| C．A tourist attraction. | D．Her cousin’s farm. |
| A．That the holiday is unexpectedly tiring and boring. |
| B．That she hadn’t been well prepared got her cousin annoyed. |
| C．That there was no familiar river in sight. |
| D．That lack of full preparation made her lose her way. |
| A．Because her carelessness brought an unexpected pleasure. |
| B．Because she finally reached what she had intended. |
| C．Because the right route to her destination was close. |
| D．Because she discovered a tourist spot unknown to others. |
| A．Covering. | B．Receiving. |
| C．Mirroring. | D．Affecting. |
| A．Stay calm even if trapped in trouble. |
| B．Slow down your pace and enjoy the beauty in life. |
| C．Keep positive because everything has a way out. |
| D．Adjust your plan for the purpose of pleasure. |
【推荐2】Smartphones are perhaps one of the things we like most or least. While they create a shared and communicative digital(数字的) experience，their use also greatly reduces the amount of direct communication we have. So, while we feel closer than ever through smartphones，research shows that we’re actually lonelier than ever.
We see this situation most commonly among the youth who were born into the digital age. Phones have increased the level of isolation (孤立). Janet Behrens, principal of Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School, noticed it in the lunchroom, where students had their heads down looking at their phones and had little conversation with each other.
Then, she created a lunchroom policy, which requires all students to leave their phones behind during Friday lunches and sit at a table with students they may not know. During Friday lunches, kids pick a card that shows which lunch table they will be sitting at that day. Each table provides ideas for conversation starters. in case students have trouble thinking of things to talk about with kids they might not know
Anyone who knows teens knows that they are likely to refuse to follow this kind of forced socialization(合群). So they may not quickly agree with such an idea. However, the new program is different. After taking a few weeks to get used to the new program, kids are kinder to each other and they actually look forward to Friday lunch hour. Sahara Kanke, a ninth grader, said, “I think it’s fun I was a bit confused when I first knew the program. But I like doing it now. People are nicer to each other now because they got to know each other at lunch”
Policies like this are important. ABC News reported that students who use phones and computers less during class scored half a grade higher than students with smartphones. Due to the advantages of reducing smartphone use among the youth, schools around the world have been testing different methods to help students overcome the difficulties
1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Students’ dislike of school food. |
| B．Students’ loneliness brought by smartphones |
| C．Students’ refusing to follow some school rules |
| D．Students’ making new friends through the Internet |
| A．It aims to get students to share their problems |
| B．It can improve students’ problem-solving ability |
| C．It calls on students to stop chatting online at school |
| D．It encourages face-to-face communication among students |
| A．It is pretty difficult to get along with teenagers |
| B．It is challenging to carry out the new program in school |
| C．The new program has drawn students closer to each other |
| D．Young students were glad to join the program at the beginning |
【推荐3】I was easily upset by the “bad things” before I met my secondary school English teacher Ms. Smith. I always believed bad luck hovering over me all the time. I seldom felt joy until that day when I helped Ms. Smith with her heavy documents to the office. She had got to know me and she told me a method to practise happiness.
If you are feeling that life just cannot be any worse for you, it can be challenging to think positive thoughts. When we are stressed, depressed, upset, or otherwise in a negative state of mind because we perceive that “bad things” keep happening to us, it is important to shift those negative thoughts to something positive. If we don’t, we will only attract more “bad things” .
Ms. Smith told me to say my practice out loud and with feeling! I started with one small, positive thing and repeated it during the course of my day, I began to move into a more positive situation: positive thoughts, feelings, opportunities. With practice, I found that over time, I changed my outlook and chose to be happy.
I began and ended each day with a “Thank you” for this wonderful, glorious day! When I saw the gas prices hiking, I said, “I am so glad that I am blessed to have a vehicle in which to get around. ” When I was late for work, I said, “I am so happy and grateful for my job as I know that many don’t have one. ”
The possibilities here are endless: insert what does work for you and feel good about it! The key is to move yourself into a positive thought and keep it there long enough to make it a moment of blissful peace. The more you practice, the happier you’ll be. I believe so, and have enjoyed my life ever since.
1. Which of the following words can describe the author before he met Ms. Smith?| A．Happy and joyful. | B．Positive and grateful. |
| C．Helpful but negative. | D．Normal but talkative. |
| A．You will attract bad things if you think negatively. |
| B．Bad things keep happening to you when you are sad. |
| C．Feeling positive is challenging when you are stressed. |
| D．It is impossible to change positive thought when you are depressed. |
| A．Who is to blame? |
| B．I really do appreciate my eyes that see. |
| C．What a shame that I can’t hear the sound. |
| D．Everyone can listen to the beautiful music except me. |
| A．Never give up. | B．Stick to your plan. |
| C．Pursue your dream. | D．Practise happiness |
