While the metaverse (虚拟空间) may seem virtual to many people, it has provided Italian artist Elisa Laraia with a real-life trip to China, where she demonstrated the charm of technology through several works of art from her native land.
The three-day 11th China Popularized Science Products Exposition, in the city of Wuhu, concluded on Monday. With an exhibition area of 36,000-square-metres, it offered audiences a fresh look at science and technology through its panoramic (全景) virtual exhibition hall and highly interactive exhibits.
Multiple leading sci-tech achievements and cutting-edge products were introduced and displayed. For Elisa, the exhibition provided a rare opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the metaverse concept and China’s development in this field.
Back home in Italy, Elisa is a professor at the School of Sculpture at the Naples Academy of Fine Arts, and director of Laboratorio Permanent e di Arte Pubblica (LAP) — a permanent public art workshop. Over a period of years, she has become increasingly attracted by her Chinese students, taking more interest in Chinese art and culture. One of her Chinese students has been serving as LAP’s Chinese liaison (联络人) and invited her to attend the exhibition in Wuhu, bringing along some art works from Italy.
Elisa grasped the opportunity to see China for the first time, and brought a series of works by seven artists from the Naples Academy of Fine Arts to be shown at the event. The seven artworks integrate cutting-edge concepts, such as the metaverse and artificial intelligence, with realistic topics such as environmental pollution and social resources. During her trip to Wuhu, Elisa also delivered a speech on the theme of the metaverse and art education. “I found that many works focus very much on improving the experience of the exhibitors, allowing them to integrate into the works of art,” said Elisa. “The various technological exhibits in the exhibition hall also allow people to en vision the future.”
She added that exploring the impact of technology and art on society is a topic she continues to pay attention to, and this experience has provided more inspiration for her future teaching activities.
1. What may be shown at the exhibition?| A．Local green products. | B．Italian modern clothing. |
| C．AI foundation models. | D．China’s traditional architecture. |
| A．Elisa has never visited China before. | B．Elisa sponsored the virtual exhibition. |
| C．Chinese artists are highly respected. | D．The exhibits are mostly Italian art works. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Favourable. | C．Cautious. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．A science textbook. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A research paper. | D．A news report. |
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【推荐1】Jennifer Brophy, a professor of Stanford, is working on methods that she hopes will be used to improve commercial plant species so that they can survive harsh conditions. Initially, she studied green architecture in her undergraduate years. Once she started taking architecture classes, she realized it wasn’t her passion — but when she encountered an article about a company that creates biofuels (生物燃料) from bacteria, something clicked. “I thought that was just the coolest thing. It got me really interested in pursuing bioengineering,” she says.
Today, Brophy is developing new genetic engineering techniques that can help plants grow in various conditions. By changing the genome (基因组) of both commercial crops and soil bacteria, she thinks it’s possible to help plants survive droughts.
Brophy is building what she calls “genetic circuits”. Besides changing the genes within plant cells, this method also changes how and when those genes are triggered. If the plant senses a specific sugar, it can express one protein; if it senses another signal, it’ll express a different protein. If both signals are there, the plant may be able to express something else entirely. ”Using circuits to all these different inputs,“ she says.
“A plant doesn’t necessarily know what’s coming. It just knows whether it’s hot or temperate right now,” says Brophy. This can lead to problems when weather becomes erratic. A plant that usually flowers in spring may flower in winter if there’re a few unseasonably warm days. When temperatures fall again, the flowers die, which ruins a year of crops. “It’d be great to be able to communicate with plants to tell them, ‘Hey, you should wait on that flowering,’” she adds.
Brophy is still testing the concept in the lab using a small weedy plant called Arabidopsis. She notes engineering crops in the future may also involve genetically modifying soil bacteria. As the bacteria’s surroundings change, they could potentially send out chemical signals that tell nearby plants to shift their growth accordingly. Brophy thinks engineering crops could benefit farmers and society at large.
1. What made Brophy interested in bioengineering?| A．Her undergraduate education. | B．Her visit to a company. |
| C．Her exposure to a related article. | D．Her curiosity about biofuels. |
| A．create better biofuels from soil bacteria | B．monitor the proteins within plant cells |
| C．preserve species of commercial crops | D．promote plants to respond to surroundings |
| A．Unpleasant. | B．Unstable. | C．Unbearable. | D．Unaffected. |
| A．Jennifer Brophy, a brilliant bioengineering scientist. |
| B．Climate change, a tough problem around the world. |
| C．Genetic circuits, a smart method to help crops survive. |
| D．Genetic engineering, a new technique to produce crops. |
【推荐2】Some people worry about robots taking work away from human beings, but there are a few jobs that even these people admit most of us would not want. One is cleaning up radioactive waste, particularly when it is inside a nuclear power station.
So, send in the robots? In 2011 the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan suffered a series of meltdowns after its safety systems failed following a tsunami. Robots were then sent into it to monitor radiation levels and start cleaning things up. Many got stuck, broke down or had their circuits fried by the intense radiation.
Stopping such things happening again is part of the work of the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR). It is led by Rustam Stolkin of the University of Birmingham, and its purpose is to improve the routine use of robotics in nuclear power stations. One problem with the robots sent into the ruins of Fukushima Daiichi was that they were not particularly clever. Most were operated by someone at a safe distance. Such machines’ arms are tricky to move accurately when viewed via a video screen. Dr. Stolkin believes the answer is to equip them with artificial intelligence (AI), so that they can operate by themselves.
The nuclear industry, however, is extremely prudent. So, for the moment, AI is needed to assist human operators. For example, instead of relying on a remote human operator to operate all its controls, an AI-equipped robot faced with a pile of different objects to move would use a camera to understand those objects’ shapes and positions relative to one another. It could then plan how best to grasp each object and move it to a properly designed disposal skip.
Other members of NCNR are examining different aspects of the problem. At the University of Bristol, Tom Scott leads a group working on means for robots to identify materials, including various sorts of plastic. Gerhard Neumann of the University of Lincoln is developing advanced navigation systems. And to ensure robots’ circuits don’t get fried, Klaus McDonald Maier at the University of Essex is developing electronics to fight against the effects of radiation.
1. How did the robots perform at Fukushima Daiichi in 2011?| A．They were not capable of the task. | B．They cleaned up the waste in time. |
| C．They were not affected by radiation. | D．They found it hard to identify materials. |
| A．Admiring. | B．Cautious. | C．Successful. | D．Independent. |
| A．The University of Birmingham. | B．The University of Lincoln. |
| C．The University of Bristol. | D．The University of Essex. |
| A．Will AI robots threaten more jobs? | B．Could robots replace human beings? |
| C．Extreme robotics: cleaning up nuclear waste | D．Nuclear robotics: speeding up the exploration |
【推荐3】A national engineering laboratory in Tianjin is the base of the world’s largest and most advanced sound source identification system for commercial use. At first glance, the equipment, known as a sound camera and consisting of a big wheel with a supporting frame, resembles a mini Ferris wheel that lacks seats and cannot rotate. A closer look at the 5-meter-diameter wheel reveals high-tech features like an array of 144 sensors (传感器) used to capture, identify and analyze the source of noise on railways. “It is like a sound radar (雷达) for discovering noise,” said Hu Wenlin, vice head of the National Engineering Laboratory for Noise Control and Reduction at China Railway Design Corporation.
Hu said that the data produced by the machine allows engineers to better understand the sounds generated when a train passes by, such as which part produces the most noise. After analyzing the data, engineers can draw up precise plans to reduce noise and make construction plans accordingly. For example, if a railway passes a residential area with stricter noise abatement requirements, engineers can come up with a plan to minimize noise, usually at greater expense. But if a railway passes a place with more relaxed noise control requirements, designers can make a cheaper plan.
Noise control technologies have been applied to dozens of major railway projects across the country. The sound camera, fully developed in China, is advanced by world standards, said Wang Changjin, the director of the National Engineering Laboratory. Before the sound camera was available, engineers usually used a pole fitted with sensors to collect sound data along railway lines. “It cannot be compared to the technique we are using now, which is far more accurate,” Wang said.
The machine is just one of many innovations developed by the laboratory. It has conducted many research projects on railways, leading to the development of key noise control equipment for high-speed railways and bringing quieter lives to people living near the lines.
1. What can we know about the sound camera from paragraph 1?| A．It is invented by Hu Wenlin. | B．It is a sound radar in the shape of a wheel. |
| C．It is fitted with many sensors to study noise. | D．It transforms sound information into images. |
| A．Monitoring. | B．Ranking. | C．Reducing. | D．Analyzing. |
| A．It is very easy to move. | B．It consumes little energy. |
| C．It is available for everyone. | D．It operates far more precisely. |
| A．Technology Frees People from Noise | B．Sound Camera Makes Rail Lines Quieter |
| C．The Importance of Conducting Sound Research | D．The Influence of Noise Pollution on People’s Life |
【推荐1】That youngsters were glued to online games on their smart phones was a great concern for Ngurang Meena, a school teacher in Nirjuli. The 30-year-old social science teacher, who ran the Ngurang Learning Institute, an adult literacy centre, said that she felt disheartened when she read student papers. "The graph of student performance is falling every year. It breaks my heart whenever I see answer sheets-basic grammar skills are missing and there's an absence of any cohesive(连贯性的)expression. They lack guidance and reading culture is almost zero," Meena said. When her school and the centre she ran had to close due to infectious diseases, she planned to do something to solve the problem.
Inspired by a similar proposal in Mizoram, Meena set up a bookshelf with around 80 books as well as some benches on the side of the road in Nirjuli on August 30th, 2020, where passers-by could spend time reading. The selections included motivational books, biographies and novels as well as comics for young children. "I have to please the children with sweets to sit and read, but that is okay." she laughed.
Meena's bookshelf became a hit among youngsters who spent hours in the reading corner. Within two months, her effort became the talk of the town.
Now, generous contributions of books come in from the public and she is even receiving requests to set up such libraries in other parts of the state, including one in the capital, Itanagar. Since the tiny libraries are far from the main town, she also lends books out to those who want to read at home.
"I never thought that this would become such a big inspiration," Meena said. "Since childhood, we have been told that books are our best friends. The next generation of kids is focused on games and other things. I don't want them to head on the wrong track," she added.
1. What's the aim of Meena's reading program?| A．To help adults learn cohesive expression. |
| B．To care for youngsters lacking in reading. |
| C．To keep Ngurang Learning Institute running well. |
| D．To highlight the importance of reading for adults. |
| A．She offered them transportation. | B．She offered some rewards to them. |
| C．She chose novels with beautiful covers. | D．She selected books covering every category. |
| A．Influential and meaningful. | B．Small and useless. |
| C．Large but impractical. | D．Widespread but unwelcome. |
| A．Books: Sources of Knowledge | B．The Roadside Reading Corner |
| C．The Library: a Heaven for the Young | D．New Ideas about Setting a Reading Plan |
【推荐2】Sydney—A shark savaged a schoolboy’s leg while he was surfing with his father at a beach in Sydney on February 23. It was the third shark attack along the coast of Australia’s largest city in a month.
The 15-year-old boy and his father were in the water off Avalon, on Sydney’s northern beaches, around dawn when he was attacked. The city’s beaches are packed with locals and tourists during the summer months.
“The father heard a scream and turned to see his son thrashing (激烈扭动) about in the water,” police said.“Fortunately, the shark swam away and the boy was helped to the shore by his father.”
Lifesaving Club spokesman Nick Miller said, “It got him around the top of his left leg and the father came and dragged him out of water.” He said the boy was bleeding heavily when he was brought to the shore.“There was a lot of pain, as you can imagine.” The teenager was airlifted to hospital for treatment for leg injuries.
Police said the bites “cut through to the bone”, but the boy did not appear to have sustained any fractures (骨折). He was in a stable condition now.
Several beaches were closed after the attack. Water police and lifeguards were searching for the shark, while police hoped to identify its species by the shape of the bite marks. But they said it was too early to say what type of shark attacked the boy. “I don’t even know if he saw it,” Miller said.
Many shark species live in the waters off Sydney’s beaches, but attacks on humans are still relatively rare. However, there were two attacks on successive days earlier this month, one on a navy diver in Sydney harbor, not far from the famous Opera House, and the other on a surfer at the city’s world-famous Bondi beach.
Fishermen say shark numbers are on the rise. There is a ban on commercial fishing in the harbor, which has increased fish stocks. Marine experts also claim environmental protection has created a cleaner environment, attracting sharks closer to the shore as they chase fish. Many shark species are protected in Australian waters.
1. The report mainly tells us_____________.| A．shark attacks on humans are on the rise |
| B．sharks attacked humans three times in one month |
| C．a boy was attacked by a shark at a Sydney beach |
| D．shark numbers are increasing in the waters off Sydney’s beaches |
| A．It is one of the largest cities in Australia. |
| B．Sydney harbor is not far from the famous Opera House. |
| C．There are many locals and tourists on its coast all the year round. |
| D．There are few shark species in the waters off Sydney’s beaches. |
| A．he was losing much blood when he was dragged out |
| B．he was very nervous when he was sent to hospital |
| C．he may be in danger of losing his leg |
| D．he was injured in the right leg |
| A．environmental protection has created a cleaner environment |
| B．a ban on commercial fishing has increased fish numbers |
| C．many shark species are protected in Australian waters |
| D．the film Jaws has made the Great White famous |
【推荐3】Many of us like to eat out and treat ourselves to delicious food. We are used to choosing hearty, fat-filled dishes and sugary desserts, which are not easily cooked at home.
The recent rise of light meals, however, gives us a smarter choice. According to Economic Daily, low-calorie, low-fat and high-fiber meals have become popular in China’s restaurants and online delivery platforms.
The country saw a rapid increase of restaurants concentrating on light meal. From just 600 in 2017 to more than 3,500 in 2018. According to a report published by Meituan a major online food delivery platform, the number of light meals ordered online also rise 75 percent from the previous year.
Having a light meal, however, doesn’t mean eating only vegetables. Different from the meat-free lifestyle, a typical light dish avoids oily, salty and spicy food. Instead, it contains things like boiled meat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Healthy nutrients are the theme of the light meal. These dishes are useful for keeping healthy and controlling your weight. That’s probably why so many people, especially the youths are into them.
They see it as “a great way to avoid getting fat,” wrote the Telegraph.
“After eating several light meals, I now prefer light flavours,” Zou Jing a college teacher in Wuhan, told China Daily. She shared a picture of her lunch: a mixture of beef eggs, corn, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.
These changes in eating behaviour are connected to deeper changes in how people think about food, says Walter Willett. Chairman of the nutrition department at the Hanard T. Chan School of Public Health, U.S.,“ Diet quality, not quantity is important for both weight control and long-term well-being.” Willett told The New York Times. So the next time you have a party with friends, try a light meal, it will satisfy, not only your stomachs but may be also your hearts.
1. What are light meals?| A．Fat-filled dishes. | B．Meat free dishes. |
| C．sugary desserts. | D．low calorie and high fiber meals. |
| A．Listing numbers. | B．Giving examples |
| C．Giving descriptions. | D．Showing other people’s opinions. |
| A．They are usually colourful. | B．They are simple and convenient. |
| C．They are cheaper than other meals. | D．They can help people control their weight. |
| A．Light meals will stay popular for a while. |
| B．One’s eating habit shows their personality. |
| C．There is a change in attitude toward healthy eating. |
| D．It’s important to cat the right amount of good food. |
| A．How to keep fit | B．Living the light life |
| C．Tips on eating out | D．The rise of online food delivery platform |
