【推荐1】Fastbrick Robotics, a company that specializes in (专攻) robotics, is responding to the increased demand for housing and a shortage of skilled construction labour with a bricklaying (砌砖) robot. The huge robot Hadrian X can lay a residential (住宅的) house from the ground up on site in a safer, faster and cheaper way.

Hadrian X is not the first large-scale outdoor construction robot. The trouble is that nothing’s happening outdoors. That’s because some weather conditions like wind, rain and temperature variations can make life difficult for robots outdoors. Most robots can’t adjust to small, quick changes in wind or temperature, which may lead to bricks being laid way out of position and get very dangerous. So now, any robot building has to be indoors in minutely controlled environments.

Hadrian X has overcome this problem using the precision (精确) technology Dynamic Stabilisation Technology (DST). The computer program measures environmental factors at a surprising rate of 2000 times per second, and then accounts for them in real time. Combine that with a 3-D printer style building process based on CAD modelling, and you’ll get a robot that can lay bricks with a margin of error of just 1 millimetre and is much more precise than a human worker.

Hadrian X has got other things going for it than just precise, though. It’s also 15 to 20 times faster than human builders, and the use of CAD modelling reduces waste because every brick is planned and calculated. Plus, it removes the need for humans working at heights and in intensive labour. These aspects should lead to vastly reduced housing costs. Mike, CEO of Fastbrick Robotics, calls it a “social housing solution”.

Fastbrick’s technological innovations (创新) may be pioneering. but that doesn’t mean it’ll all be smooth sailing. Bricklaying is an old industry as old as the oldest cities we know of. In terms of technique, there will not be a lot to change. After 5,000 years of doing the same thing, such a big change is sure to meet with some resistance and challenges. “All the concerns can be removed by the potential rewards because everybody wants this to work... It’s an amazing thing to work in an organization where you have global support to be successful,” Mike said.

1. What was the disadvantage of previous outdoor construction robots?

A．They failed to work well due to environmental factors.

B．They were restricted to building small structures.

C．They were unable to avoid the dangers of construction.

D．They would break down easily in rainy weather.

2. How can DST ensure Hadrian X’s working accurately?

A．By connecting it with a 3-D printer.

B．By creating CAD models with human workers.

C．By operating it with a responsible and experienced worker.

D．By reminding it to adjust the bricks’ positions in time.

3. What do Mike’s words in the last paragraph imply?

A．He is going to improve old bricklaying skills.

B．The new technology challenges traditional beliefs.

C．He is positive about Fastbrick Robotics’ future.

D．Fastbrick Robotics has removed the doubts of others.

4. What’s probably the best title for the text?

A．New robotics technology will change the construction industry.

B．A major breakthrough in handling natural disasters.

C．Approaches to guaranteeing construction workers’ safety.

D．Hadrian X is threatening human workers.

【推荐3】A raised eyebrow, a puzzled look or a nod of the head are just a few of the facial expressions computers could soon be using to read people’s minds.

An emotionally aware” computer being developed by British and American scientists will be able to read an individuals thoughts by analyzing a combination of facial movements that represent underlying feelings.

“The system we have developed allows a wide range of mental states to be identified just by pointing a video camera at someone, “ said Professor Peter Robinson of the University of Cambridge.

He believes the mind-reading computer’s applications could range from improving people’s driving skills to helping companies tailor advertising to people’s moods(心情).

“Imagine a computer that could pick the right emotional moment to try to sell you something, a future where mobile phones, cars and Web sites could read our mind and react to our moods,” he added.

The researchers, who are developing the technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, also hope to get it to accept other inputs such as posture(姿势)and gesture.

“Our research could enable Web sites to tailor advertising or products to your mood,” said Robinson. “For example, a Webcam(网络摄相机) linked with our software could process your image, encode the correct emotional state and send information to a Web site.” It could also be useful in online teaching to show whether someone understands what is being explained and in improving road safety by determining if a driver is confused, bored or tired.

“We are working with a car company, and they believe this will be employed in cars within five years,” Robinson said, adding that a camera could be built into the dashboard(仪表板).

1. Why is the computer described as “emotionally aware”?

A．It can store your thoughts.	B．It can express its feelings.
C．It thinks the same way as you.	D．It knows what you are feeling.

2. Which word can best replace the underlined word “tailor” in Paragraph 4?

A．Suit.

B．Turn.

C．Devote.

D．Reduce.

3. What is the purpose of the camera to be built into the dashboard of a car?

A．To identify the driver’s mental state.	B．To help the driver learn driving skills.
C．To send traffic information to a Web site.	D．To record the driver’s facial movements.

4. In introducing the mind-reading computer, the text focuses on        .

A．its development	B．its designers
C．its applications	D．its working process

【推荐1】Imagine this scene: it’s blowing outside, and you snuggle (蜷伏) up on the sofa under a warm quilt, chatting and recalling with your closest friends.

That content, cosy feeling has a name in Danish —hygge. And, as Denmark recently won the title of “the happiest country in the world”, the concept of hygge is known to more and more people interested in finding ways to understand this concept.

Hygge —originally from a Norwegian word meaning well-being — doesn’t have an exact equivalent (等同物) in English. It’s often translated as coziness, or as blogger Anna West told the BBC, “coziness of the soul”. But, as professor Maren Spark explains, “Hygge was never meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt.”

Basically, hygge involves creating a warm, cosy atmosphere and enjoying it with your loved ones. Danish winters are long and dark and so achieving hygge is particularly relevant during this season. A typical Hygge activity during winter could be enjoying delicious homemade food and light-hearted conversation with friends —preferably in the warm glow of candlelight, or maybe sipping a glass of wine in the hot tub after a day spent skiing.

However, hygge isn’t only limited to the cold winter months —it can also describe that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after a walk through a forest with friends on summer’s day or a family barbecue in the park. Hygge is meant to be shared.

1. The author asks the readers to imagine the scene in the first paragraph to_________ .

A．help the readers to calm down

B．introduce the topic of the passage

C．present the main idea of the passage

D．remind the readers of their past memories

2. What do the underlined words by Maren Spark mean?

A．The translation of the word “hygge” is not good enough.

B．Only Danish speakers know what “hygge” means.

C．“Hygge” is easy to translate but hard to feel.

D．We can get the true meaning of “hygge” by feeling it.

3. Which of the following can be best described as a “hygge” activity?

A．Skiing in the cold winter months.

B．Living through long dark winters.

C．Taking afternoon tea with friends.

D．Walking alone in the forest.

4. The author writes this passage to_________.

A．explain

B．persuade

C．comment

D．advertise

【推荐2】Throwing handfuls of bread to birds has long been seen as harmless enough. But in recent years, some scientists have suggested that bread might not do birds’ digestive systems any good, saying that as uneaten food rots down, the water quality worsens and algal blooms can occur. Plus, by encouraging birds to gather in one place, the build-up of droppings may result in outbreaks of disease too. Meanwhile, many cities have signs telling us not to feed pigeons and gulls, which are considered an “annoyance” due to the mess they make, and scattering bread inevitably attracts rats and mice.

It seems that the public has accepted these warnings, and that fewer of us now feed birds this way. In October, a sign went up in a Derbyshire park claiming that the local birds were dying of starvation, and urging visitors to feed them as before. When online posts about the notice went viral, feathers flew as people debated the benefits of handing out bread to birds.

Paul Stancliffe of the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO) points out that there’s insufficient scientific evidence for bread harming birds, adding that, as little research has been done, it could even turn out to be beneficial. ① “We just don’t know,” he says. Although bread is a heavily processed “unnatural” food intended for humans, that alone may be insufficient grounds for not feeding it to birds.

In the 1980s, the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (WWT) carried out a comparative study of different flocks of mute swans, and the birds that consumed the most bread had weaker muscles, implying that a bread-heavy diet might be the cause. “Our official line is that bread is okay for ducks, geese and swans, but only in moderation,” says WWT’s Peter Morris. “However, this advice comes with several other warnings.” ② The first is that it’s best offered in winter, when there is less plant and insect food around. In spring and summer, too much artificial food may not be a good idea, since young birds have to learn how to look after themselves and natural food will contain a wider range of nutrients to help them grow.

“Just like us, birds need a varied diet to stay healthy,” says a spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB). “Although ducks, geese and swans can digest all types of bread, too much can leave them feeling full without giving them all of the important vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need.” ③

When bird feeding first became popular in the UK in the 19^th century, some Victorians encouraged tough love, arguing that such handouts would only make our feathered friends lazy and dependent on welfare. ④ Morris says that there is a theory that wild birds can get “hooked” on easy meals, losing interest in other types of food. Another danger, he says, is that birds fed regularly end up accustomed to humans, placing themselves at greater risk of predation(捕食).

1. How can feeding birds with bread affect our urban life?

A．Birds’ mess can attract many rats and mice.

B．Birds’ gathering in one place disturbs our peace.

C．Bread goes bad and the water quality will suffer.

D．Human beings are likely to be infected with bird flu.

2. If birds rely on a bread-heavy diet, there is a strong possibility that ________.

A．they will become bigger in size with stronger muscles

B．lack of certain nutrients negatively influences their health

C．their digestive system will be damaged by artificial food

D．they would soon choose bread rather than natural food

3. Where does the sentence “Such moralizing sounds old-fashioned nowadays, but may have a grain of truth.” best suit?

A．①

B．②

C．③

D．④

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Is feeding birds a wise choice?	B．Why not feed our bird neighbours?
C．Can we treat birds as friends?	D．When do birds need our food aid?

【推荐3】With reports suggesting a second wave of coronavirus may be on its way, it makes sense to give yourselves a check if we’re still doing all the right things. Washing hands is one of those things that we were hopefully already doing, but realized in the wake of the pandemic（流行病） that we could always be doing it more and for longer. But what about washing our food? Given the news that there have been outbreaks in food factories and processing plants from-Bernard Matthews to Mr. Kipling locations, it does make sense to think about it.

Although the government have confirmed that the chance of catching coronavirus from food and food packaging is “very unlikely”, washing food before eating is a part of good habit that can reduce that small risk. Sally Bloomfield, chair of the scientific advisory board of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene tells people, “Because the items you pick off the shelves in the supermarket may have been touched by other people, there is a chance that the packaging may have become harmful via their hands. Washing your shopping is not a question of whether it is necessary, it’s about minimizing risk and if someone in the home is at increased risk of infection, this becomes more important. ”

Dr. Perpetua Emeagi, a lecturer in Human Biology and Biological Sciences at Liverpool Hope University, says, “If someone with COVID-19 asked you if you wanted a bite of their sandwich, you clearly wouldn’t go anywhere near it. ” On the science side, she continues, “Officially, Public Health England tells us that the quantity of infectious virus on any surface is likely to have decreased significantly by 24 hours, and even more so by 48 hours. But there’s also some evidence to suggest the virus could survive for up to seven days outside the human body. Surfaces like cardboard and plastic-common supermarket packaging products are known to effectively harbor COVID-19. And my advice would be this: Wash or wipe down everything you bring home thoroughly before either putting in your cupboards or consuming it. ”

1. Why did the author mention coronavirus in the first paragraph?

A．To give some evidence.	B．To attract young readers.
C．To lead to the topic.	D．To state the latest event.

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 2?

A．People can by no means catch a virus from food.

B．Washing food before eating is a positive and necessary action.

C．The items you pick from the supermarket can have a lot of viruses.

D．The government has confirmed that there is no need to wash food before eating.

3. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Cause.

B．Destroy.

C．Protect.

D．Carry.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Necessity of washing food before eating.

B．Ways to stop the spread of coronavirus.

C．Approaches to picking up groceries.

D．Ways to deal with infection with coronavirus.