1 . SYDNEY —Australian scientists have designed a system which uses microwaves to break down plastic into an environmentally friendly by-product.

Head of Electrical Engineering at Australia’s James Cook University, Prof. Mohan Jacob revealed on Thursday that by using microwaves, plastic waste can be converted into biochar(生物炭), charcoal that can be used as a soil conditioner.

“We are developing a processing room, which could process many kinds of plastic materials, up to 5 kilograms of waste,” Jacob said. “It will be a typical example system for the development of biochars from different types of plastics under various conditions.” Jacob explained that microwave energy is used to heat the plastic waste above 600 degrees centigrade within the custom-made room, where it ends up as a biochar, which can then be used to improve the properties of soil.

Currently underway is step one of the project, testing the room, after which, step two will involve improving the energy efficiency of the system and maximizing the yield of by-products. If all goes to plan, step three will be to construct a medium scale waste processing system which is customizable and can be installed remotely.

Jacob said that with the average person using 130 kg of plastic every year, there is an urgent need for developing better ways of processing it.

“Perhaps contrary to popular opinion, plastic is an indispensable material in modern life. It is cheap, competent, lightweight, and has many benefits like maintaining food quality and safety and preventing waste,” he said.

However, “abandoned plastics endanger our marine wildlife, and have begun to enter the food chain. There is an urgent need for developing technologies to recover plastic waste.”

1. How does the system function?

A．Microwaves are used to produce plastic.

B．Plastic waste is heated in the microwaves.

C．Plastic waste is cut into pieces and buried into the soil.

D．Microwaves change plastic waste into biochar by heating.

2. Which statement is true according to Jacob?

A．Plastic consumption now is acceptable.

B．Plastic should be abandoned in our life.

C．The system of processing plastic has come into use.

D．Finding better ways to deal with plastic waste is urgent.

3. What does “recover” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Make up for a loss in time.

B．Find or regain lost possession.

C．Extract or recycle an energy source for reuse.

D．Return to a normal state of health, mind or strength.

4. What does the passage mainly tell about?

A．3 steps of processing plastic waste.

B．A way of producing plastic products easily.

C．A new system of breaking down plastic waste.

D．A program designed for plastic use in the daily life.

2 . Imagine a cat that does not need someone to clean up after it keeps an older people company and helps them remember to take their medicine. That is the shared dream of the toy maker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The researchers received a $ 3-million-dollar from the National Science Foundation for a special project. They want to find ways to add artificial intelligence, or AI, to Hasbro’s “Joy for All” robotic cat.

The cat has already been for sale for two years. Though priced at over 1,000 dollars, it sold quite well. It was meant to act as a “companion”(陪伴) for older people. Now the project is aimed at developing additional abilities for the cat. Researchers are working to decide which activities older adults may need the most. They hope to make the cat perform a small number of activities very well. Such activities include finding lost objects and reminding the older people to take medicine or visit their doctor. They also want to keep the cost down to just a few hundred dollars.

It is an idea that has appealed (有吸引力) to Jeanne Elliott. Her 93-year-old mother Mary Derr lives with her in South Kingstown. Derr has dementia (痴呆). The Joy for All cat that Elliot bought this year has become a true companion for Derr. The cat stays with Derr and keeps her relaxed while Elliott is at work. Elliot said a robotic cat that helps her mother to remember to take her medicine and be careful when she walks would be greater.

The researchers are trying to learn how the improved cats will complete helpful activities and how they will communicate. They say that they do not want a talking cat, however. Instead they are trying to design a cat that can move its head in a special way to successfully communicate its message. In the end, they hope to create an exchange between the human and the cat in which the human feels the cat needs them. By doing so, the researchers hope they can even help prevent feelings of loneliness and sadness among elderly people.

1. What’s the purpose of the project?

A．To reduce the pain of the elderly.

B．To increase the sales of a medicine.

C．To help make the robotic cat smarter.

D．To invent a robotic cat for the elderly.

2. What can we know about the cat?

A．It will be on sale in two years.

B．It may be cheaper in the future.

C．Its abilities will be made simpler for the elderly.

D．It can tell the activities that older adults need the most.

3. What does the example in Paragraph 3 show?

A．The cat gives much help to the elderly.

B．The cat works well to talk with the patient.

C．The cat can make the dementia patient less painful.

D．The cat should be designed to satisfy patients’ need.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Each family can afford such a cat in the future.

B．A talking cat is quite popular among the elderly.

C．Feelings of sadness among the elderly are unavoidable.

D．The feeling of being needed is important to the elderly.