【推荐1】Your dog is as smart as any two year old, according to a new study. Dogs bring much happiness to their owners, and even improve human health. Most two year olds keep us busy in life — an important part of living a long and happy life. According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D.of the University of British Columbia, our dogs are smarter than we thought.
Dr.Coren reviewed many studies to find out that dogs are as smart as 2 to 2.5 year olds. Forget about one word orders — according to Coren, the smartest dogs can learn up to 250 words. Most dogs understand an average of 165 words. “The upper limit of dogs” ability to learn language is partly based on a study of a Border Collie (博得牧羊犬) named Rico who showed knowledge of 200 spoken words, and ‘fast-track learning’, which scientists believed to be found only in humans and language-learning apes(猿)。
Dogs are also great at tricking. During play, they have the ability to trick humans and other dogs in order to get treats. “And they are nearly as successful in tricking humans as humans are in tricking dogs,” saysCoren.
Dogs can also count to four or five, which might explain how they know when their toys are missing. Coren explains,“Their astonishing flashes of smartness and creativity are reminders that they may not be Ensteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought.”
Animals can do much to keep us happy, health, and protect us from harm. Stories of dog heroes can be found using a simple Internet search. Pets teach us sense of duty, keep us from loneliness, and can help with treatment of the disabled. Dogs are smarter than we thought — as smart as a two year old.
1. How do dogs bring happiness and health to humans according to the author?

A．By doing funny tricks.

B．By keeping humans busy.

C．By serving their owners.

D．By playing with their owners.

2. What makes Rico special?

A．He seldom uses one word orders.

B．He uses words like a 2.5 year old.

C．He is Corn’s favorite subject for study.

D．He shows a high level of language ability.

3. What does Dr. Coren say about a dog’s counting ability?

A．It is as good as an ape’s.

B．It is close to human’s.

C．It leaves a lot to be studied.

D．It helps them keep their toys.

4. For someone interested in knowing more stories about dogs, the author suggests that he.

A．train a dog

B．search the Internet

C．watch a two year old

D．visit a hospital for the disabled

【推荐2】We could say that any animal that knows how to find food, avoid being eaten, and raise babies is pretty smart. But can animals learn and remember or can they solve problems?

Many animals have good memories for where food is --- a useful skim Scrub jays (灌丛鸦) may be the champions. In one experiment, scientists put them in pre-made holes. After the jays had hidden some food, they were taken out. Scientists mapped where the food was hidd6n and then remove ii, which meant the jays couldn’t find the holes by smell. But when the jays came back again, they went right to the hiding they had used. In the wild, they remember where thousands of holes arc. Could you do that?

Another important smart skill is being able to spot shapes and generalize. This kind of test work best with animals that see well and are interested in pictures. Call in the pigeons(鸽子)! In this test, pigeons had to learn to pick out photos with trees in them, and to ignore photos that didn’t include any trees. Once they had learned the rules, they were very adept at it.

Scientists have to be careful when they test animals for smarts, and the person giving the test has to know the animal really well, in one experiment, a few bananas were hung out of reach over a p on the ground. Monkeys figured out right away how to get the bananas: pick up a stick and knock t down. But clever elephants kept failing this test. Finally scientists figure out why. An elephant’s trunk work as both its hand and its nose. When it got the stick, it couldn’t smell the bananas. When the elephants were given a couple of boxes instead, they quickly use them to make a step and got the bananas.

As we’re learning, the world is full of smart animals, each thinking in its own special way.

1. Scientists performed an experiment on scrub jays to ______.

A．find out why they are good at remembering things

B．prove that they can find hidden food by smell

C．see how they recognize holes

D．test their memories

2. Para.3 mainly tells us that ______.

A．some animals are able to spot shapes and generalize

B．Pigeons can see well and are interested in pictures

C．Pigeons can pick out photos with trees in them

D．Ail the animals are good at spotting shapes

3. The different behaviors of monkeys and elephant show ______.

A．monkeys have a big advantage over elephants

B．Scientists know different animals really well

C．animals show their smarts in different ways

D．Food holds a lot of attractions for animals

4. Which of the following shows the right structure of the text?

A．	B．
C．	D．

【推荐3】Get up close and very personal with the Aquarium’s largest exhibit and its biggest predators(食肉动物) with the new Shark Keeper program! After each participant prepares to feed the sharks and other fishes in the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Exhibit, they will then get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to feed our sand tiger sharks! Participants will also experience a tour of other behind-the-scenes animal care work areas and take home a real-life shark tooth.
Program Outline:
﹡Greeting from Educator
﹡Educational Program: misunderstandings about sharks, biology, pictures, shark tooth comparisons, animal overview, what to expect during the experience.
﹡Behind-the-scenes food prep
﹡Brief overview of Safety and Policies
﹡Feeding
Schedule:
Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 3:40 pm
Session: 3:40 pm
Length: 60 minutes
Requirements: All participants must be 16＋.
Price: $50.00, plus Admission(Members: $45.00). Space is currently limited to three participants per scheduled session.
How to Book: Phone: 631 208 9200,ext.H2O(426)
Online: When purchasing your Admission ticket, please select the Shark Keeper add-on under the Aquatic Adventures section of the shopping cart.
Guests with Special Needs:
Long Island Aquarium＆Exhibition Center makes every effort to accommodate guests with special needs. Please be aware that to participate in this program, guests must be able to navigate the animal habitat spaces with minimum assistance, and must be able to understand and take direction in English from staff members. To ensure the best experience, please contact the Call Center at 631 208 9200, ext. H2O(426) to discuss your individual needs.
Cancellations(取消):
There is a 72-hour cancellation policy. Any cancellation made within 72 hours will not be refunded. No-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. Guests arriving late (after the required program check-in time) will not be permitted to participate in the program and will not be refunded or rescheduled. We encourage guests to arrive at the Aquarium with plenty of time to park, enter, and check into the program. Adventurers should report to the Main Entrance at least ten minutes ahead. The sessions will begin quickly at the scheduled time. Please plan accordingly.
1. After joining the program, you will _______.

A．feed sharks once a life time

B．get a real shark tooth as a souvenir

C．meet the biggest predators of sharks

D．draw some pictures of sharks

2. As a guest with special needs, you are expected to _______.

A．make sure of your individual needs

B．move around the center alone

C．follow the directions of staff members

D．seek as much assistance as possible

3. If you want to give up the program, you’d better _______.

A．report it to the center 10 min before the session

B．manage your plan again with 72 hours

C．expect to refund from the center

D．report the center 3 days in advance

4. What information can we learn from the program?

A．You can book the program in advance online.

B．There is no limit to the age of participants.

C．You need to pay ＄95 at least for the program.

D．A session is scheduled for 3 children every week.

【推荐1】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 is how patients will react to a robot entering the room. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently set out to answer that question.

In a study, the team found that a large majority of patients reported that interacting with a health care provider through a video screen fixed on a robot was similar to an in-person interaction with a health care worker.

“We’re working on robots that can help provide care to ensure the safety of the patient and the health care workforce. The results of this study give us some confidence that people are ready and willing to join us. In a larger online survey carried out nationwide, we also found that a majority of respondents were open to having robots perform small tasks such as taking a nose swab (拭子).” says Giovanni Traverso, an MIT assistant professor 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 reduce interactions between potentially sick patients and health care workers. To that end, they created 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(脉搏) rate. The robots also carried an iPad for remote video communication with a health care provider.

The study suggests that it could be worthwhile to develop robots that can perform tasks that currently require a lot of human effort, such as turning a patient over in bed. These days, turning COVID-19 patients onto their stomachs requires several people. Doing Covid-19 tests is another task that takes a lot of time and effort from health care workers, who could be arranged for other tasks if robots could help.

1. Why did the researchers from MIT and BWH carry out the studies?

A．To shorten the social distance between doctors and patients.

B．To figure out the response of patients to robotic doctors.

C．To reduce the risk of being infected with coronavirus.

D．To ensure the safety of patients during the pandemic.

2. What could be learned from the study?

A．Robots are not welcomed by patients.

B．Robots will soon replace doctors.

C．Robots may help to deal with Covid-19 patients.

D．Robots can operate on different patients.

3. What is paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．Robots can perform tasks that currently require a lot of human effort.

B．Robots can replace health care workers in hospital.

C．Robots will fail doing Covid-19 tests.

D．Health care workers in hospital will lose their jobs.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Strengths And Weaknesses In Robot Care

B．The Robotic Doctor Will See You Now

C．The Robots Speed Up COVID-19 Testing

D．The Development Of Robots In Hospitals

【推荐2】A Way Out of Social Anxiety: Volunteering and Acts of Kindness

As a socially anxious introvert (内向的人), I can prove the benefits of serving others through volunteering in my community.

A volunteer job doesn’t need to require stepping into a busy room full of 100 people at a school or hospital.     1     This kind of work is much more suitable and agreeable for introverts.

    2     When I help elders or people with disabilities who are more isolated and lonelier than I am, I feel my nervousness and self-consciousness disappear. My social awkwardness loses its grip on me when I’m focused on helping someone else rather than myself or my social performance. Unlike showing up at a job interview, business meeting, or speaking engagement, working as a volunteer with people in need takes the spotlight away from being measured or judged.     3    

Social scientists have an suitable name   for stressful social situations where we need to perform and would likely be judged or evaluated. Any time we are in evaluative situations where we are judged by others, we face this social-evaluative threat and endure a sudden rush of stress hormones that increase anxiety. When we are in situations where we offer acts of kindness or help others, however, we tend to feel less judged by others.     4     Neuroscientists have studied the warm glow of doing good that makes us feel good.

“Kindness may help socially anxious people,” says Dr. Lynn Alden, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia.     5     She found that acts of kindness may help to count er the socially anxious person s fear of negative evaluation by promoting more positive perceptions and expectations of how other people will respond.

A．Some people are naturally reserved while others are rather outgoing.

B．Indeed, my own act of kindness has always been a sure bet to bring me out of my shell.

C．In social anxiety disorder, fear and anxiety lead to avoidance which can disrupt our life.

D．When I am giving my free time to help others, I feel truly liberated in my mission to serve.

E．Instead, my volunteer service consists of quiet one-on-one visits with isolated older adults.

F．These situations do not pose such a social-evaluative threat, but instead, calms and soothes us.

G．She and her colleagues conducted a study with 115 undergraduates who had reported high levels of social anxiety.

【推荐3】Before you go on your next two wheeled adventure, make sure you’re familiar with the ins and outs of bicycle safety.     1    .—one powered by an electric motor in addition to your pedaling (踏板).

Many of the safety recommendations are the same for both types of bikes. Wear a helmet. Ride with the flow of traffic rather than against it. Make sure you’re visible to motorists (some e-bikes now come with lights).     2    . (left: extend your left arm out to the side; right: extend your right arm or bend your left arm up at a right angle). Don’t talk on the phone, text, or listen to music. And if you’re an e-bike rider, heed these tips too:

Check your bike’s condition. That starts with checking that the tires are inflated (充气了的) and the brakes are working properly.     3    , take it for a tune-up (调整) before you take it for a ride. For an e-bike, also make sure your battery is charged. And before and after every ride, inspect your bicycle for damage.

    4    . This is important for e-bike riders. With the ability to go faster comes the responsibility to know when you should slow down.

Know the rules of the road. When you’re riding in the street, even in a protected bike lane, read the signals, pay attention to the lane markings, and check the signage to see where e-bikes are allowed.     5    .

A．Be aware of your speed

B．Keep up the high speed of e-bike

C．Know how to use your arm to signal turns

D．If the bicycle hasn’t been used for a while

E．When you finish the work of checking your bike

F．This holds true whether you’re riding a traditional bike or an e-bike

G．Signs may specify which types of bikes are allowed on which roads and paths

【推荐2】A new study has found that tools designed to warn drivers and automatically stop vehicles in emergency situations helped reduce crashes by about 50 percent.

For the study, numerous automobile manufacturers supplied vehicle equipment data on 93 different vehicle models from 2015 to 2020. This information was combined with data collected on more than 12 million police-reported crashes in 13 American states.

One of the technologies studied is called forward collision warning. Collison is another word for crash. This system uses cameras, radar and other technology tools to gather information on safe driving distances. It warns drivers if their vehicle is getting too close to other vehicles ahead. Another related driver assistance tool is known as automatic emergency braking (刹车). This system is designed to identify possible crash dangers involving vehicles ahead. The tool can automatically slow or stop a vehicle if it senses the immediate danger of a crash.

The group’s study found that front-to-rear (前后) crashes were reduced by 49 percent when the striking vehicle had both forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. The systems also reduced crashes resulting in injuries by 53 percent. The research also suggested automatic braking systems perform well in many situations, including poor weather and low light conditions.

The study also found that vehicles equipped with technologies designed to keep vehicles in their driving lane (车道) “are effective in reducing single-vehicle crashes that lead to serious injuries”.

Many carmakers now include this kind of technology on some vehicle models. It is designed to automatically keep a vehicle centred in lanes of traffic. The study found these tools reduced crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway by eight percent.

That study warned that drivers who put too much trust in driver-assist technologies are putting themselves at risk for serious accidents. A majority of drivers in the study said they were more likely to perform non-driving related activities, like eating or texting, while using the tools.

1. What does the author’s statement in Paragraph 2 imply?

A．There is potential danger of automatic driving.

B．The data source for the study result is true and reliable.

C．Traffic accidents are decreasing in America.

D．The market prospect of assistance tool is broad.

2. What does the underlined “this kind of technology” in Paragraph 6 refer to?

A．Forward collision warning.

B．Automatic emergency braking.

C．The technology keeping vehicles in their driving lane.

D．Technology tools to gather information.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．No driver-assist technique is completely dependable.

B．Future technology can avoid any traffic accident.

C．Future technology can bring more convenience to drivers.

D．There is still a long way to go to study driverless cars.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．A Traffic Accident Report to Prevent Injuries and Loss of Life

B．Study: Vehicle Warning and Braking Systems Cut Crashes by 50 Percent

C．An Advertise on the Effectiveness of Driver Assistance Systems

D．Automobile Manufacturers Are Trying to Develop High-Quality Vehicles

【推荐3】How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings

Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical（经验的，实证的） basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation.

Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room's ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.

In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant's ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.

Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.

Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim（暗淡的） light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.

So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. "We have a very limited number of studies, so we're almost looking at the problem through a straw（吸管）," architect David Allison says. "How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we're all struggling with."

1. What does Joan Meyers-Levy focus on in her research?

A．Light.

B．Ceilings.

C．Windows.

D．Furniture.

2. The passage tells us that ________.

A．the shape of furniture may affect people's feelings

B．lower ceilings may help improve students' creativity

C．children in a dim classroom may improve their grades

D．students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed

3. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that ________.

A．the problem is not approached step by step

B．the researches so far have faults in themselves

C．the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect

D．research in this area is not enough to make generalized patterns

4. Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
CP: Central Point       P: Point     SP: Sub-point（次要点）     C: Conclusion

A．

B．

C．

D．