【推荐2】A robot navigates through strawberries, detecting ripe ones, picking them without bruising (擦伤) them and placing them in its basket. It sounds futuristic but it is possible now thanks to Rubion, the picking robot for strawberries. This piece of Belgian innovation is not only an answer to the labor shortage in the agricultural industry, but it also allows growers to increase the quality of its produce, which in the end benefits the consumer.

Demographic (人口的) and socio-economic numbers show that the labor shortage in the agricultural industry is a fact. But for Octinion, the focus is clearly on adding quality. “Thanks to robotics, we have so many possibilities, much more than a human could ever do. Harvest prediction, picking according to market needs, simply picking when the berries are ripe instead of when workers are available—these are just a few examples of what is possible now for a grower,” says Tom Coen, CEO of the Octinion Technology Group. “The consumer will also notice the difference, as strawberries will be fresher and show less bruising.”

Introducing robots into an industry where almost everything gets done by hand is more of a revolution than an evolution. It calls for close cooperation with all stakeholders (利益相关者). Tom Coen says, “Not only have we been working together with growers and test centers across the world for the past couple of years, but breeders have been keen on being part of the technological developments.”

In 2014, a team of Belgian engineers started the development of the robot. In the meanwhile, Octinion wasn’t the only company presenting a concept. Product Manager Laura Guillaume says it's not a surprise that the company from Leuven is the first to actually present a commercial product: “By developing the robot from the beginning, we are able to make it practical in greenhouses or tunnels.” Octinion plans to launch harvesting robots for other crops in the upcoming years.

1. What can we know about the robot?

A．It can help solve the problem of labor shortage in the agricultural industry.

B．It makes little difference to the quality of the fruit.

C．It was developed by a group of Belgian engineers independently.

D．It has been put into use around the globe.

2. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The good news of robotic picking.	B．The advantages of robotic picking.
C．How robotic picking works.	D．Different attitudes to robotic picking.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．The robot was introduced to the market in 2014.

B．Octinion is the only company to put forward the idea of the robot.

C．The robot can be used in any situation.

D．Various harvesting robots are on the way.

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

A．Ways of robots picking strawberries

B．Fruits to be picked by robots

C．The world’s first strawberry-picking robot

D．A newly-invented robot

【推荐3】Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few obvious benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that,understandably, are very often asked.

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in sur- rounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely de- stroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.

Exploration also allows minerals(矿物质)and other potential resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The tech- niques may have medical applications which ean improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglass- es are by-products of technological developments in the space industry!

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative,brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists,but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life,surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

1. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraphl?

A．To express his doubts.	B．To introduce points for discussion.
C．To compare different ideas.	D．To describe the conditions on Earth.

2. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?

A．Humans have the tendency to fight.

B．Humans don't like to stay in the same place.

C．Humans may find new sources of food.

D．Humans are nature-born to do so.

3. The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to_

A．survival chances	B．unexpected benefits
C．potential resources	D．physical possessions

4. Which of the statements can best describe the passage?

A．Space exploration has created many wonders.

B．Space exploration provided the best value for money.

C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology

D．Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

【推荐1】Dolphins are universally regarded as some of the cleverest creatures in the world. In captivity (圈养), they can be trained to complete complex tasks such as jumping through hoops and somersaulting through the air.

But their intelligence doesn’t stop there. In a recent study of cetaceans (鲸目动物)—a group of animals that includes dolphins and whales—researchers created a list of intelligent behaviors observed in 90 different cetacean species, reported the Guardian. For example, the smartest cetaceans hunt in groups, share knowledge through mimicry (模仿) and even care for each other’s children. Some even consider their behavior to be human-like.

“There is the saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ seems to be true for both whales and humans,” Michael Muthukrishna of the London School of Economics, co-author of the study, told the Guardian.

However, cetaceans don’t just use their brain power for survival. The study suggests that dolphins might even gossip. That’s because some species greet each other with specific whistles, just as humans greet each other by name, the Guardian reported. Sometimes, a group of dolphins whistles the “name” of a dolphin that isn’t there. Could they be speaking about their “friend” behind its back?

For the researchers, dolphin small talk is a big deal. As they found that the most social cetaceans also have the largest brains, they argue that cetacean intelligence developed to meet the demands of complex social groups.

Known as the “cultural brain hypothesis (假设),” it had only been used to explain the intelligence of humans and other primates (灵长目动物). The new study aimed to find a common pathway for the evolution of intelligence among biologically different species.

“It is interesting to think that whale and human brains are different in their structure but have brought us to the same patterns in behavior,” Luke Rendell, a biologist at the University of St Andrews, told the Guardian.

Indeed, we still have a lot to learn about our intelligent ocean-dwelling neighbors. “We don’t have to look at other planets to look for aliens,” Muthukrishna told the Guardian, “because we know that underwater there are these amazing species with so many parallels to us in their complex behaviors.”

1. What does the underlined word “gossip” probably mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Singing.

B．Shouting.

C．Chatting.

D．Arguing.

2. What was the aim of the recent study?

A．Learn more about intelligent creatures of the sea.

B．Explain the intelligence of humans and cetaceans.

C．Create a list of intelligent behaviors of different cetacean species.

D．See whether the intelligence of different species evolved in the same way.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Some cetaceans have the same intelligence as human beings.

B．It is unnecessary to look for aliens and do research into them.

C．Both dolphins and whales greet each other with specific whistles.

D．Both dolphins and whales have a lot in common with humans in behaviors.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Aliens living underwater.

B．Intelligent creatures of the sea.

C．A study of intelligent dolphins.

D．Reasons for the intelligence of sea creatures.

【推荐2】A robotic game of cat and mouse in a lab shows us the possibilities of future robots carrying out search-and-rescue missions or wildlife protection without too much human guidance.

The Tianjicat robot developed by researchers at Tsinghua University in China uses a brain-inspired computing chip called TianjicX.The so-called neuromorphic(神经形态)chip can use a variety of Al technologies at the same time in an energy-saving way. It is one example of experiments with neuromorphic systems that could allow small robots to make decisions using limited computing resources and power.

The researchers asked the Tianjicat robot to catch up with another robot that was set to move freely in a room full of barriers. This required Tianjicat to track the mouse robot by using both sight and sound detection,and to find the best way to hunt its pretend prey(猎物)without knocking anything. The team said that the TianjicX chip reduced the amount of power for the robot cat to make decisions.

Performing a cat-and-mouse chase would be more difficult for most other robots, because they usually follow very predictable routines in warehouses or factories, Many robots that interact with more complex and unpredictable environments rely on remote control by human operators, or else must keep wireless connections with distant data centres. Neuromorphic systems haven’t yet been used on a large scale, but their relatively small size, weight and power requirements could provide practical advantages.

The Tianjicat robot is worldwide acknowledged. “For robotics, this is very important because it allows the system to run longer in hard-to-reach environments,” says Jeffrey L.Krichmar at the University of California, Irvine.

1. What’s the advantage of TianjicX?

A．It is much larger.	B．It is energy-saving.
C．It is heavier.	D．It is cheaper.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us?

A．Why the robot chased another robot.

B．What the robot’s pretend prey was like.

C．How the experiment for the robot was done.

D．How much power the robot used in an action.

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 4?

A．Neuromorphic systems are widely used now.

B．The Tianjicat robot needs very high power supply.

C．Robots with neuromorphic systems have more advantages.

D．Robots can almost independently perform in difficult environments.

4. What’s Jeffrey L. Krichmar’s attitude to the invention of the Tianjicat robot?

A．Indifferent.

B．Doubtful.

C．Objective.

D．Positive.

【推荐1】Yawning is something we all do -- maybe because we're bored carrying out boring tasks or because we're tired. Sometimes, just seeing other people yawn can set you off. But is this biological function really contagious, and why do we do it in the first place?

Many of us think we open our mouths when we yawn to take in more oxygen, but in fact it appears there is no clear biological reason. According to BBC Bitesize, new research suggests it might be because yawning cools the brain down and prevents it from overheating, much like the fan in your laptop. This might be why we're more likely to feel sleepy and yawn in warm temperatures.

What is clear is that we yawn more when we're exhausted and ready for a nap, and we can't control when we do it -- once we start, there's no stopping us! But it's also true that yawning is a very contagious behavior. John Drury, a researcher from Sussex University found in his research that there is a connection with our social group and how close we are to the people in it. If we identify with the person who exhibits the behavior, we are likely to copy it too.

Another research by the University of Nottingham in 2017 found similar results. They asked volunteers to watch other people yawn. They found their ability to resist yawning when others around them yawned was limited. And the urge to yawn was increased when people were told they couldn't. They also found, when using electrical stimulation, that they were able to increase people's desire to yawn. These findings, they say, could be useful in treating other conditions like Tourette's, which involve the same area of the brain.

What is certain is that a yawn can creep up on us at any time even when we think we're not tired --but, I hope, not when you're reading this article!

1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “contagious”？

A．Infectious.

B．Active.

C．Dangerous.

D．Efficient.

2. According to a new research, we yawn because

A．we are too exhausted.

B．our brain needs more oxygen.

C．we are bored with difficult tasks.

D．our brain needs to be cooled down.

3. What is the similarity between John Drury's findings and those of the university of Nottingham?

A．Humans can't stop yawning as it is beneficial.

B．When told not to yawn, we will yawn less frequently.

C．Using electrical stimulation can stimulate people to yawn.

D．We are more likely to yawn when someone around us yawns.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The reasons for yawning.

B．The benefits of studying yawning.

C．The necessity of yawning.

D．The similarity of the studies on yawning.

【推荐2】A new TV documentary is being made which charts the lives of three children who are making a home in Britain. In each case, the children have travelled to the UK alone to join their mothers after a separation of several years.

Imran is 11 and lived in Pakistan with his grandmother before coming to a village near Peterborough in the East Midlands to join his mother and his new stepfather, whom he had not met before. He speaks Urdu and Punjabi, but not a word of English. Imran soon gets into trouble at school because he is at a disadvantage among his confident English-born classmates. The other children tease him because they think he is not cool, so he covers up his awkwardness by playing the fool. After school he sits drawing a picture of himself with tears on each cheek.

Like Imran, 10-year-old Altynay from Kyrgyzstan, spoke no English when she arrived at her new home in Penistone, Yorkshire, but she was lucky to have Kanykei, who has lived in England for three years, to interpret for her. Even so, this little girl, who was the head girl at her old school, found her first few months here very hard. Early in the film she is shown laughing and dancing with Kanykei, while later she appears to be homesick and disappointed by the language barrier at her village school. But that was a few months ago. Kanykei confirms that Altynay is happier now because she has learned more English.

Compared with the two, Marshal has a huge advantage, having been educated at English-language schools in Zimbabwe. He is also outgoing. When asked if settling into a new country is hard for him, he shakes his head, “No, it was not hard for me. I am a brave person.” But his new life is not without difficulties. “It is his reading I am worried about, ” says his mother Josephine. “He didn’t have my support when he needed it.”

1. What concerns Imran in the UK?

A．His foolish classmates.

B．His poor drawing skills.

C．His bad relationship with his stepfather.

D．His unpleasant experience at his new school.

2. What does Kanykei say about Altynay?

A．She is adapting to the new life speedily.

B．She finds it easy to learn a new language.

C．She is experiencing a positive change now.

D．She has become the top student in her new class.

3. How is Marshal different from Imran and Altynay?

A．He is good at reading.

B．He lacks parental love.

C．He has fewer difficulties in language.

D．He faces more challenges in his new life.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．A Lonely Life in a New Country	B．Breaking the Barrier
C．Great Expectations	D．Happy life in the UK

【推荐3】The philosopher, Martin Buber, is most known for his work on “I-Thou/You” relationships in which people are open, direct, mutually interested in each other. In contrast, “I-It” relationships are those in which we use the other, like an object, to solve our problems and fulfill our needs and purposes.

It is not our fault that many of our relationships are or become “It” relationships because most of what we feel, think and do is motivated by unconscious memories of how to survive the environment into which we were born. Thus, one of the reasons we use other people to help us feel better about ourselves and cope in the world is that using people was once necessary and it worked. When we were small and helpless, “It” came and fed us, and held us, and set us on our way. We didn’t have to reciprocate and care for “It”. Even when the care and attention of “It” was minimal or unpredictable, if we got out of childhood alive, somewhere along the way “It” was involved.

Freud called this stage of early life “primary narcissism”, which is our instinct (本能) for self-preservation and is a normal part of our development. While most of us grow out of it，we still hold a survival fear, which motivates us to escape danger and to stay alive, and we all need this fear in healthy measure.

The problem is that too many of us, too much of the time, are in a constant state of threat—and we often don’t know it. We imagine people are talking about us behind our backs, that we have cancer, that we are inadequate, and vulnerable to more than our share of bad luck. As our brains have grown in size and complexity, so has our ability to scare ourselves.

This causes many problems. For example, our stress levels increase, our digestion is impaired and our thinking becomes restricted. Our threat response stops any bodily function, feeling, thought and behavior that might “waste” energy and detract from fighting or escaping danger. Thus, when in threat, our emotional, cognitive and behavioral range is significantly reduced.

And in this reduced state, one of our solutions is to find someone who can save and comfort us. Instead of enabling us to be open, direct and mutual, fear and anxiety lead us towards conversations and choices in our relations with others that are orientated towards surviving—not thriving (茁壮成长). Threat-motivated relationships are characterized by need, dependency, control, demand, dishonesty, and self-interest.

We cannot form the “I-Thou” relationships that Buber speaks of until we have learned to notice, comfort, and understand the emotions and patterns of our threat brain. When in threat, we tend to use other people as objects who can save and protect us, or who we can blame for our problems.

1. What does the underlined word “reciprocate” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Return the favour.	B．Ask for some advice.
C．Convey an apology.	D．Make some comments.

2. What can we learn about “primary narcissism”?

A．It leads to our survival fear.	B．It is normal and usually temporary.
C．It impacts our growth negatively.	D．It lays the foundation for Freud’s theory.

3. Which of the following could be an example of “I-It” relationships?

A．Comforting an upset friend.	B．Feeling sorry for your mistakes.
C．Trying hard to be independent.	D．Asking others to take on your task.

4. What would be the best title for this passage?

A．How We Can Form the “I-Thou” Relationships

B．How We Can Get Out of the “I-It” Relationships

C．Why We Treat Others as Objects Rather Than Individuals

D．What Helps Us Survive and Thrive in Early Stages of Life