【推荐1】Every driver loves sailing through a series of green lights without having to stop and wait at a traffic light. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, German researchers have found a way to reduce time spent at crossings.

Called the KI4LSA project and funded by the Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the innovation is being tested. Scientists first studied algorithms (算法) taken from a busy crossing to learn about traffic patterns and where improvements were most needed. There is a great necessity to speed up waiting times at crossings as traditional methods are inflexible, according to the Fraunhofer Institute.

The new AI method uses radar sensors and high-resolution cameras to interpret traffic patterns in real-time. They can determine the speed of traffic as well as waiting times and combine this with algorithms. Scientists are currently trying this out at a busy crossing in Lemgo, Germany, with encouraging results.

The intelligent lights are said to improve traffic flow by 10 to 15 percent, which results in money saved; the EU estimates that traffic jams create economic damage that adds up to 100 billion euros a year. Apart from reducing commuting time, these traffic lights will reduce noise and CO₂ emissions from cars idling (空转) at crossings.

Another exciting development in this research is the K14PED project, which studies pedestrians passing crossings. Using AI, researchers can identify how many people are waiting at a pedestrian crossing and whether some of these people will need extra time to cross the street. Using a 3D points cloud, they can tell if someone has disabilities or is elderly without identifying the individual. Because pedestrian buttons that are presently at crossings cannot determine if some people have special needs or are elderly, this is a real win. Such a needs-based system could reduce pedestrian waiting time by 30 percent, which could then decrease jaywalking (乱穿马路) by 25 percent.

Testing will be done until the late summer of 2022 in the German towns of Lemgo and Bielefeld, with researchers optimistic that it will be adopted by many countries. This technology is exciting news for pedestrians and drivers alike. It encourages safety, protects the environment, and may even give you more time to enjoy your morning coffee before heading off to work!

1. What is the function of AI in the KI4LSA project?

A．To avoid noise pollution.	B．To control the speed of traffic.
C．To remind people of traffic rules at crossings.	D．To provide real-time information about traffic.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Ways of improving traffic flow.	B．The development of artificial intelligence.
C．The effect of traffic jams on the environment.	D．Advantages caused by the intelligent lights.

3. What can we learn about the K14PED project?

A．It can be helpful to pedestrians with special needs.

B．It can identify the individual accurately.

C．It can avoid traffic accidents with a 3D points cloud.

D．It has been applied to streets in many countries.

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

A．The Bright Future of AI Technology	B．The Intelligent Traffic Lights: A Blessing for Transportation
C．Digital Traffic System: A Sign of Smart Cites	D．The New Traffic Service for Old Citizens

【推荐2】Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge, the double-deck suspension (悬浮) bridge with the longest span in the world, opened to traffic on Tuesday after five years’ construction, according to a statement from the constructor.

It is reported that the bridge is 4. 13 kilometers long, with 12 lanes in both directions on the main I bridge. It is a long-span suspension bridge with the largest volume in the world, China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group said. The bridge connects the Hanyang and Wuchang and its opening will ameliorate the urban expressway system, relieve traffic pressure across the river, and drive development in the area, according to the company.

On both sides of the upper deck of the bridge, there is a two-meter-wide footpath, with eight rest and sightseeing areas, where people can enjoy the river scenery. The lower level is designed with two non-motorized lanes, each 2. 5 meters wide. A 1. 5-meter wide walkway is also a feature of each side of the floor so pedestrians (行人) can walk on the lower level without getting caught in the rain.

Chief designer of the bridge, Xu Gongyi, said, “Considering navigation and traffic volume, the main span of the bridge is 1, 700 meters, which is the second-largest in the world and also the largest in bridges of double-deck structure.”

According to Luo Ruihua, project manager of the bridge, the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge has set several records in the process of its construction. The designed tension of each of the two main cables (钢索) is 65, 000 tons.

From 2014 to 2019, builders have shown the world the speed of China. The bridge not only enhances Wuhan’s reputation as a “bridge museum”, but also represents a super project of a new era.

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

A．Keep.

B．Start.

C．Improve.

D．Show.

2. How does the text introduce the bridge’s basic information?

A．By giving examples.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By describing its principles.	D．By using data.

3. What can we know about the bridge?

A．It will attract many foreigners to Wuhan.

B．It is friendly to pedestrians.

C．The cost of its construction is low.

D．It is the longest bridge of the world.

4. What attitude does the author have to the bridge?

A．Negative.

B．Admiring.

C．Uncertain.

D．Grateful.

【推荐3】The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group supported by companies that insure owners of motor vehicles, says U. S. crashes involving large trucks rose by nearly one-third since hitting a record low in 2009. A total of 4,136 people died in such crashes in 2018, with 119 deaths resulting from large trucks rear-ending other vehicles.

However, a new study has found that when the rear-end crashes happened, safety systems were able to slow down the vehicles by over 50 percent, resulting in fewer injuries and less damage. The institute's Eric Teob did the study. He examined crash records from 62 trucking companies that operate tractor-trailers or other large trucks. He found about 2,000 crashes. Those accidents involved vehicles that traveled more than 3. 2 billion kilometers from 2017 to 2019.

The safety systems use cameras, radar and other sensors to watch the roadway. Some are designed to warn drivers of dangers, while more complex systems will stop the truck. Trucks with crash warning systems reduced rear crashes by 44 percent, while automatic emergency braking systems cut rear crashes by 41 percent, the study found.

The institute called on the federal government to require such systems on new large trucks. It’s noted that many truck operators are already adding emergency braking on their own.

“Rear-end crashes with trucks and other vehicles happen a lot, often with horrible consequences," said Teob. “This is an important countermeasure to that."

The study found that trucks equipped with a crash warning system bad 22 percent fewer crashes than those without the technology. Trucks with emergency braking systems had 12 percent fewer crashes.

Teob said the findings could be valuable for trucking companies and drivers who are considering whether to get safety devices on their next vehicles.

In the United States, there are currently no requirements for either system. In Europe, automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning has been required by the European Union on most new large trucks since late 2013, the institute said.

1. What does the author want to tell us about U. S. traffic accidents in Paragraph 1?

A．The seriousness.	B．The consequence.
C．The unpredictability.	D．The causes.

2. How can safety systems help achieve fewer injuries and less damage while crashing?

A．By sending alerts.	B．By cutting speed.
C．By making noises.	D．By turning off the engine.

3. What is Teob's attitude towards the safety systems?

A．Indifferent.

B．Neutral.

C．Approving.

D．Negative.

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

A．Safety Devices Can be Hard to Ease Your Worries

B．Safety Devices Can Reduce Big Truck Rear Crashes

C．Making Yourself a Perfect Driver

D．Driving Well for Less Damage

【推荐2】Nowadays facial recognition technology has crept into people’s life and is being commonly used. How does the technology work? Who uses this technology? In which areas is it applied? What are people worried about?     1    

How does facial recognition work?     2     This creates a distinctive digital “face-print”— much like a fingerprint. The system then runs through a database to check it for a match.

Who are its users? Facial recognition is most common in China, where people can use it to pay for a coffee, visit tourist attractions, and even withdraw cash from ATMs.     3     In Europe, high-end hotels and retailers also use facial recognition cameras to identify VIPs and celebrities as they enter, in order to give them good treatment. Several US airlines are looking to replace boarding passes with face scanners.

Where is facial recognition used? Many people know that facial recognition is being used in shops and high-speed train stations. But these are only the tip of the iceberg. Law agencies have had faces on file for decades. Their databases provide them with the identified person’s name, age, address and any criminal history. Doctors have already started using it to help them diagnose rare genetic diseases that produce distinctive facial characteristics.     4     Facebook’s system for “tagging” a photo — identifying who is in the picture — is now as accurate as users doing it themselves. Apple’s new iPhone X can be unlocked when its owner simply looks at it.

    5     As the technology becomes more widespread, there are growing fears that it will invade privacy and cause other troubles, thus putting people at risk. Like any new tool, if it gets into the wrong hands, it can be used for ill purposes.

A．However, Chinese are not the only people using it.

B．The following are things people should pay attention to when using this technology.

C．Here are some of the answers to the questions that most people are interested in.

D．What are people’s concerns?

E．It works by scanning faces and measuring facial features.

F．Facial recognition is increasingly being used by commercial firms too.

G．We should think twice before putting this technology into use.

【推荐3】It’s possible that your phone’s face-unlock might finally be able to work while you’re wearing a mask. Researchers have found that facial recognition algorithms (算法) are getting better at recognizing faces in masks, according to data published on Tuesday by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). Using independent testing of more than 150 separate facial recognition algorithms, the news report suggests masks may not be as big a problem for facial recognition systems as initially thought.

When NIST first examined masks’ effect on facial recognition in July 2020, it found that algorithms weren’t great at identifying faces with masks. “Face recognition can make errors, which can implicate people for crimes they haven’t committed,” writes the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). “It is particularly bad at recognizing African Americans and other ethnic minorities, women, and young people.” But the pandemic has given developers plenty of time to focus on the mask problem, and NIST’s data shows that facial recognition algorithms are getting better at working with masked faces. “After the pandemic, some developers have submitted algorithms which show significantly improved accuracy and are now among the most accurate in our test,” the report reads. NIST’s public ranking for facial recognition tests bears out this report. Eight different algorithms now hold false rates below 0.05 percent.

Nevertheless, there remain a number of limitations to the study. NIST researchers did not employ actual images of masked faces. Instead, they applied masks digitally to ensure consistency across the sample. As a result, “We were not able to get a thorough simulation of the endless variations in color, design, shape, texture, and ways masks can be worn,” the report states. The digital mask was a blue surgical mask covering the full width of the face, but testers noted that performance varied considerably depending on how high the mask was placed on the face.

1. What did people use to think of recognizing masked faces with facial recognition systems?

A．Effective.

B．Impossible.

C．Easy.

D．Unreliable.

2. What does the underlined phrase “bear out” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Make.

B．Prove.

C．Deny.

D．Oppose.

3. What can be learned about the study?

A．The way to wear masks may affect recognition accuracy.

B．The design of a mask makes no difference to facial recognition.

C．Facial recognition failure rates were quite low at the beginning.

D．The researchers adopted real surgical masks to ensure the accuracy.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Limitations of Facial Recognition Software

B．The Challenge of Recognizing Masked Faces

C．The improvement in Facial Recognition Algorithms

D．Different Applications of Facial Recognition Technology

【推荐1】HEMLOCK, MI --When classes resume at Hemlock's K.C. Ling Elementary School next week, the students will have a brand new playground complete with gaga ball pit(坑), Boogie Board, slides and more.

About 50 volunteers worked together to build the new playground Sunday, Aug. 19. The "community build" was the culmination of nearly a year of fundraising, said Sarah Baird, a parent and chairwoman of the playground committee.

"It felt amazing yesterday to see everybody come together," Baird said Monday. "It will be all set and ready for them for their first day of school."

The school year begins Aug. 27. A ribbon-cutting(剪彩) ceremony and open house are planned for Wednesday, Aug. 22.

K.C. Ling houses the district's first- through fourth-graders. Hemlock Elementary School, the district's other elementary school, offers preschool, young fives and kindergarten.

Baird said the former playground equipment at K.C. Ling Elementary was 30 years old, unsafe and beginning to rust(生锈). A few years ago, the Richland Township Fire Department gave the parent-teacher organization $2,500 to build a new playground. The equipment they originally wanted would have cost $100,000.

"We formed a committee and we started doing some fundraising," Baird said. "I did some things and we really tried to do something with the playground."

In the end, with the support of the community, Hemlock Semiconductor, Saginaw Community Foundation, Morley Family Foundation, Dow Corning Foundation and other donors, the group raised $70,000.

"It felt amazing yesterday to see everybody come together," Baird said of the community build. "(We had) huge support from the community and we're very thankful."

1. What does the underlined word " culmination " in paragraph 2 refer to？

A．Flag.	B．Key.
C．Name.	D．Result.

2. What difficulty did they meet when a new playground needs rebuilding?

A．There is not enough money to build the playground.

B．There is not enough space to build the playground.

C．There is no support for doing it.

D．There is no time to do it.

3. What do we know from the passage?

A．The day of the school's start is Monday.

B．The first grade goes to school in K.C.Ling.

C．K.C. Ling Elementary has a history of 30 years.

D．Most of the playground construction fund is provided by Richland Township Fire Department.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear？

A．Entertainment.	B．Health.
C．Education.	D．Science.

【推荐3】Chinese Culture Day of Confucius Institute held in Egypt

The Chinese Culture Day of Confucius Institute in Cairo University was held for the first time at the Egyptian National Museum in the capital’s Tahrir Square on Monday, Oct 8, 2019.A teacher from Confucius Institute in Cairo University performed Wushu. Meanwhile, a woman performed Chinese calligraphy and a student from Confucius Institute in Cairo University performed Chinese folk dance．

Chinese opera legends make UK stage return

People in the UK will have an opportunity to enjoy Chinese culture when the China National Peking Opera Company returns to the country for the fourth time, for a series of workshops and performances．

Activities will be held at the British Library, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. Lisa Lu, a respected actress will lead a group of artists from China, the US and the UK to discuss their experiences of working across a variety of artistic fields in different cultures over many years．

China Reading Corner opens in Fiji National Library

China Reading Corner opened here on Friday in the Fiji National Library to help strengthen the cultural exchanges between China and Fiji．

The China Reading Corner contains over 6,000 books, 20,000 e-books and other hardware given by China’s Zhengzhou Library．

Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said, “With this reading corner, Fijian people know where to find the information they are interested in and the reading corner will serve as a window for Fijian people to look out to the outside world.”

“The Chinese and Fijian people will further deepen their friendship and have a better understanding of each other,” he said．

1. If you want to enjoy China’s National Peking Opera, where should you go?

A．China Reading Corner．	B．Confucius Institute in Cairo．
C．Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum．	D．Egyptian National Museum．

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Fijian people will have a better relationship with China．

B．Lisa Lu will perform Peking opera in Britain．

C．Fiji library gave over 6,000 books to China Reading Corner．

D．The China National Peking Opera Company went to UK for the first time．

3. What topic do the three events mentioned have in common?

A．Artist．

B．Library．

C．University．

D．Culture．