【推荐2】There is a breakthrough in building aircrafts. Bendable wings covered with overlapping(部分重叠) pieces resembling fish sizes could be used to build swifter, fuel-efficient aircraft, a new study finds.

Nowadays, conventional aircrafts typically rely on ailerons (副翼) to help control the way the planes tip as they fly. However, when the Wright brothers flew the first airplane, Flyer 1, over a century ago, they used no ailerons but wires and pulleys that twisted the wood-and-canvas wings, to control the plane,

Scientists have long sought to develop aircrafts that can alter their wings during flight, just as birds can. However, most previous attempts have failed because they relied on heavy mechanical control structures within the wings. These structures were also complex and unreliable, said Neil Gershenfeld, a physicist and director of the Center for Bits and Atoms at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The new wing consists of a system of tiny, strong, lightweight modules. The shape of the wing can be changed uniformly along its length using two small motors, which apply a twisting pressure to each wingtip. These wings are covered in “skins” of overlapping strips of flexible material resembling fish sizes. These strips move across each other as the wings alter, providing a smooth outer surface, the researchers explained.

Wind-tunnel tests of these wings showed that they at least matched the aerodynamic properties of conventional wings, at about one-tenth the weight. Initial tests using remotely piloted aircrafts made with these wings have shown great promise, said Benjamin Jenett, a graduate student at the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT.

The new modular structures the scientists developed could be manufactured quickly in mass quantities and then installed by teams of small robots. These modular structures also can be disassembled more easily, making repairs simpler.

“Still, the first aircraft built using this strategy will not be a passenger jet, ”Gershenfeld said. “Instead, the technology will likely first be tested on unmanned aircraft, leading to drones (无人机) that can fly for a long time, to help deliver internet access or medicine to remote villages and do some rescue works.”

1. Why did most previous aircrafts fail to fly like birds?

A．The previous wings were complicated and weighed a lot.

B．The previous aircraft relied on ailerons to control directions.

C．There were few scientists to do research on the lighter wings.

D．There was little fuel in the aircrafts to make them fly in the air.

2. What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A．The shape of the new wings.

B．The result of the tested wings.

C．The function of the small motors.

D．The working principle of the new wings.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word“disassembled”in Paragraph 6?

A．put away

B．taken apart

C．invented

D．analyzed

4. What will the drones made by the new wings be firstly used to do?

A．Carry passengers.

B．Save people in danger.

C．Test planes.

D．Monitor the villages.

【推荐3】Recently, there have been huge advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs that create art. The programs, which create artworks based on short descriptions, have amazed many people. They have also raised difficult questions.

In April, NewsForKids.net reported on Dall-E 2, a tool from OpenAI. Dall-E uses AI to create incredible paintings, photos, and other artworks in many different styles based on simple descriptions. Since then, OpenAI has changed its rules to allow anyone to sign up and use the tool. But it’s still putting strong control on the art that can be created.

But now there are several other AI tools that work in similar ways. These new tools are free or cheap, and don’t have some of Dall-E 2’s limits. MIdjourney is a website that allows users to create images from short descriptions. Stable Diffusion is similar, but users can also run the program on their own computers.

The new tools are entertaining and powerful. They allow people to quickly see almost any idea they can imagine, even if they aren’t artists. For some creative workers, like those at companies that create ads or images, the tools allow them to quickly explore new ideas.

Many artists are upset that they’re now competing against computers for attention, prizes and jobs. It’s hard for a single artist to compete against all the art and photography that have ever appeared on the Internet. In August,Jason Allen won first place at the Colotsfo State Fair with his picture Theatre D’opera Spatial, which was created with Midjourney. That upset many people.

The images and the descriptions used to train these AI programs were taken from the Internet. The training images were without permission, which has raised questions about whether what these tools are doing is fair or legal.

The creators of training pictures haven’t given permission for their images to be used, but their skills and talents are a huge part of what makes the new tools so successful. Some artists’ groups say artists should get to decide if their work can be used by these tools.

1. What should we do to create artworks with Dall-E 2 or Midjourney?

A．Upload some photos.	B．Draw simple pictures
C．Offer brief descriptions.	D．Write a short article.

2. How do many artists react to the new AI tools?

A．They are concerned about them.	B．They are discontented with them.
C．They accept them unwillingly.	D．They welcome them warmly.

3. What does the underlined word “That”in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Jason Allen’s attracting attention.	B．Jason Allen’s creating a picture.
C．Jason Allen’s using Midjourney.	D．Jason Allen’s winning the prize.

4. In which column of a website are we likely to read this passage?

A．Lifestyle.

B．Business.

C．Education.

D．Science.