【推荐1】Agriculture as a whole is facing huge challenges, from rising costs of supplies, a shortage of labor, and changes in consumer preferences for transparency and sustainability. There is increasing recognition from agriculture corporations that solutions are needed for these challenges. In the last 10 years, major technology innovations have been focused such as indoor vertical farming, automation and robotics, modern greenhouse practices, precision agriculture and artificial intelligence.

Indoor vertical farming can increase crop yields, overcome limited land area, and even reduce farming’s impact on the environment by cutting down distance traveled in the supply chain. Indoor vertical farming can be defined as the practice of growing shelves piled one another vertically in a closed and controlled environment, which significantly reduces the amount of land space needed to grow plants compared to traditional farming methods. This type of growing is often associated with city and urban farming because of its ability to grow in limited space. Vertical farms are unique in that some setups don’t require soil for plants to grow. Most are either hydroponic, where vegetables are grown in a nutrient-dense bowl of water, or Aeroponic, where the plant roots are systematically sprayed with water and nutrients. Instead of natural sunlight, artificial grow lights are used.

From sustainable urban growth to maximizing crop yield with reduced labor costs, the advantages of indoor vertical farming are obvious. Vertical farming can control variables such as light, humidity, and water to precisely measure year-round, increasing food production with reliable harvests. The reduced water and energy usage optimizes energy conservation—vertical farms use up to 70% less water than traditional farms.

1. What does the underlined word “hydroponic” mean in paragraph 2?.

A．Grown in water

B．Grown indoors

C．Grown in a bowl

D．Grown without earth

2. Indoor vertical farming can increase crop yields because __________.

A．Only water is used.	B．the soil is more nutrient.
C．Plants are grown indoors.	D．land is used in high efficiency.

3. Which of the following is NOT the advantage of indoor vertical farming?

A．Crop yields are increased.	B．It is run without humans.
C．Labor costs are reduced.	D．Crops can grow without earth.

4. What will most probably be introduced if the passage is continued?

A．Future agriculture.	B．Benefits of indoor vertical agriculture.
C．Other solutions to agricultural problems.	D．Disadvantages of traditional agriculture.

【推荐2】

As we know, it’s the beginning of the end for TV. Apple has released Apple TV, a tiny white box that connects the shows and movies you’ve downloaded from the computer, and wirelessly sends them to your TV screen.

No longer will you have to pay a monthly fee to your cable (有线的) company to watch your favourite show. Apple’s iTunes has made it possible to download a TV show for about $ 2, keep it stored on your computer and watch it whenever you want. It’s a blow to the cable networks, which offer services that are often expensive and make hundreds of channels and thousands of shows nothing to watch.

American networks have gone one step further, allowing audiences to watch their shows for free online. If the cable companies don’t keep up with technology, we’ll soon be giving them up.

“This is the biggest kind of entertainment in history，” says Colin Dixon.“I don’t think that traditional broadcasts — cable and satellite — are going away tomorrow, but they must change to keep market share.”

The Internet changes businesses at an unbelievable speed. Now it’s happening with video. Canadians are being kept behind the times. Some Canadian channels are starting to follow American companies. Global offered Survivor: Cook Islands online, and CTV is doing the same for Degrassi: The Next Generation. And cable companies say that video on demand and personal video recording technology can compete with the Net.

“You watch when you want it，” says Michael Lee，adding that the Net doesn’t give viewers the opportunity to just sit on the couch and flip (翻阅) through channels.

However, it takes time.

“Up until this year even the US sites didn’t offer a lot of online content. We’ve seen an explosion of it this fall，” she says.

1. According to the text, Apple TV ________.

A．marks the end of TV

B．makes its users more convenient

C．can download movies from computers

D．can send movies to TV by wire

2. The appearance of Apple’s iTunes means ________.

A．good news for cable companies

B．the cable companies can earn a lot more

C．the serious situation for cable companies

D．the rapid development of technology

3. According to Colin Dixon’s words, which of the following agrees with his idea?

A．Cable companies need to turn to technology for help.

B．Cable and satellite will disappear at last.

C．There’s no need for cable companies to change.

D．Traditional broadcasts are the only entertain­ment now.

4. According to the text, what does the underlined word “it” refer to?

A．The cable company.

B．The online content.

C．Viewers’ opportunity.

D．The change of cable networks.

【推荐3】The robotic doctor will see you now

In the age of social distancing, using robots for some health care interactions is a promising way to reduce in-person contact between health care workers and sick patients. However, a key question that needs to be answered is how patients will react to a robot entering the exam room.

    1    . In a study performed in the emergency department at Brigham and Women's, the team found that a large majority of patients reported that interacting with a health care provider via a video screen fixed on a robot was similar to an in-person interaction with a health care worker.

“We're actively working on robots that can help provide care to maximize the safety of both the patient and the health care workforce.     2    . In a larger online survey conducted nationwide, we also found that a majority of respondents were open to having robots perform minor procedures such as taking a nose swab.” says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and the senior author of the study.

After the Covid-19 pandemic began early last year, Traverso and his colleagues turned their attention toward new strategies to minimize interactions between potentially sick patients and health care workers. To that end, they worked with Boston Dynamics to create a mobile robot that could interact with patients as they waited in the emergency department. The robots were equipped with sensors that allow them to measure vital signs, including skin temperature, breathing rate, and pulse rate.     3    .

The study suggests that it could be worthwhile to try to develop robots that can perform procedures that currently require a lot of human effort, such as turning a patient over in bed, the researchers say. Turning Covid-19 patients onto their stomachs has been shown to improve their blood oxygen levels and make breathing easier.     4    . Administering Covid-19 tests is another task that requires a lot of time and effort from health care workers, who could be arranged for other tasks if robots could help perform swabs.

A．The robots also carried an iPad that allowed for remote video communication with a health care provider.

B．Up to 30 percent of the participants reported that they were concerned with the robotic system.

C．Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently set out to answer that question.

D．Currently the process requires several people to perform.

E．However, the question still remained whether patients would be receptive to this type of interaction.

F．The results of this study give us some confidence that people are ready and willing to engage with us on those fronts.

【推荐1】Young people can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates.

Li Wen, a junior 2 student from No. 2 Middle School, could not understand his teacher and was doing badly in his lessons. He became so worried about it that he didn’t sleep well at night.

Another student, 16-year-old Yang Fang from No. 1 Middle School was afraid of exams. She got very worried and when she looked at the exam paper, she couldn’t think of anything to write.

A recent report from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of Shanghai teenagers have mental (精神的) problems. Their troubles include being worried and very unhappy, and having problems in learning and getting on with people. Many students who have problems won’t go for advice or help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others don’t want to talk about their secrets.

Liang Yuezhu, an expert on teenagers from Beijing Anding Hospital has the following advice for teenagers:

● Talk to your parents or teachers often.

● Take part in group activities and play sports.

● Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell.

1. The students who often become worried or have trouble getting on with others may have ________.

A．no parents	B．a headache
C．a knife with them	D．mental problems

2. Yang Fang’s problem happened when ________.

A．she had exams	B．she studied very hard
C．she talked with her parents	D．she thought of something

3. Students who have problems won’t ask others for help because ________.

A．they won’t let others think they are stupid

B．they don’t think doctors can help them

C．they don’t want to talk about their secrets

D．both A and C

4. Liang Yuezhu’s advice tells us that ________.

A．it’s unnecessary for them to be with others

B．only group activities and sports can help them

C．it’s better for the students who have mental problems to join others

D．teachers and parents can’t do anything about mental problems

【推荐2】Chinese delivery driver, Gao Zhixiao, was featured on the cover of Time magazine in March because of his sense of commitment. Alongside five others, he was picked by the magazine as one of heroes among the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Ever since COVID-19 broke out, many restaurants shut down or switched to takeout-only services. Millions of people have been staying at home to avoid getting infected. “People choose to order food online or buy fruit and vegetables to cook at home,” Gao told Time. As a result, delivery orders dramatically increased, placing a huge burden on delivery company.

Born into a poor family in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Gao started to make a living in Beijing at age 16. After the novel coronavirus broke out, Gao hesitated for a second to continue working, but then picked up orders because he thought customers might be in need.

Due to the danger of person-to-person transmission, Gao must take care to avoid spreading viruses during his route around Beijing, including taking a regular health test and spending 20 minutes disinfecting his motorcycle and clothes each morning. Besides delivering goods, Gao once willingly cooked for an elderly customer who was living alone at her home.

It is the commitment of ordinary people like Gao that has made the biggest contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

1. What can we know from Paragraph 1?

A．Gao manages a delivery company.

B．Gao is one of five drivers to deliver food during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

C．Gao comes from a rich family.

D．Gao was chosen on the cover of Time magazine due to his selfless commitment.

2. Why delivery orders dramatically increased according to the passage?

A．People were too lazy to go out for meals.

B．There was a discount if people chose delivery orders.

C．People were asked to order food online by the government.

D．People were afraid of being infected with coronavirus by going out.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Gao Zhixiao?

A．Brave and humorous.

B．Selfless and warm-hearted.

C．Hard-working and honest.

D．Positive and selfless.

4. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．The Horrible Pandemic

B．A Delivery Hero

C．A Brave Heart Beats Anything

D．Making Contributions Against COVID-19