1 . McKenzie grew up at a farmhouse. Initially, the fence around the property was old and had several large gaps, so I strengthened the bottom with chicken wire and thought all was well. McKenzie would spend his days frolicking (嬉戏) in the large yard while Connie and I were at work and Sophie was at school.
One day, while on a job in the area, I stopped home to visit. As I pulled up to the driveway, I saw McKenzie outside of the fence playing in the daisies, dancing and nosing at a large butterfly hovering just out of his reach. I watched McKenzie enjoying himself until, suddenly, he realized he wasn’t alone. He took one look at me and fled to a hole under the fence, wriggling (扭动) back into the yard. He ran around to the back of the house, the place where he was usually asleep when we came home. As I stood and watched, McKenzie then proceeded to come around the corner of the house, stretching as if he had just woken up. Then, continuing his act, he looked at me as if he had just noticed I was home and excitedly came up to the fence, where he sat in his “proud boy” stance (姿态), as if he had been good all day and was glad to see me! I laughed as I opened the gate, and then I stood and gave him a frown. With my hands on my hips, I asked the little faker where the hole was. To my surprise, he lowered his ears and dejectedly walked over to the spot in the fence he had earlier wriggled through and sat down, looking at me. I laughed so hard that I cried.
1. Why did McKenzie run back when he saw the author?| A．Because he messed up the house. | B．Because he killed a butterfly. |
| C．Because he was afraid to be scolded. | D．Because he was tired of playing alone. |
| A．Disappointedly. | B．Passionately. | C．Delightedly. | D．Indifferently. |
| A．Critical. | B．Ironic. | C．Lighthearted. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．An Unforgettable Experience | B．McKenzie, a Fantastic Actor |
| C．A Lesson from a Clever Dog | D．McKenzie, a Loving Family Member |
2 . Robots have certain advantages compared to humans. They are efficient, tireless, can be repaired when damaged and they never get sick. The last quality has made them the star during our fight against the COVID-19(新冠肺炎). While thousands of medical workers have fallen ill dealing with this highly infectious virus and a lot more have to stay at home for fear of getting the disease, this isn’t a problem for robots. This is why the COVID-19 outbreak is seen as the “tipping point” for robots to start to replace humans in certain jobs.
In hospitals, robots are used to perform high-risk tasks. In China, for example, a hotel in Hangzhou employed a robot to deliver food to people under quarantine(隔离). In Spain, robots are about to be used to test people for the coronavirus(冠状病毒).
In non-medical companies, robots are also replacing human employees since they don’t have the problem of the social distancing and will never take sick leave. Fast-food chains like McDonald’s are not only delivering food with robots in some areas, but also looking to use them as cooks and servers. Walmart and Amazon, for example, where robots are already used in packing and shipping, are planning to increase the number of robots in these areas.
But this sudden boom in robot demand doesn’t mean that they can replace humans successfully in every aspect. According to Bill Smart, a roboticist at Oregon State University, the human contact between doctors and patients is still important. Doctors comfort the patients and guide them through hard decisions while robots are only doing daily tasks, like cleaning and giving tests.
It might be true that robots have certain advantages over humans, but they are still secondary to human’s communication and emotion.
1. Which of the following is not the advantage of robots over human beings?| A．They never fall ill. |
| B．They can offer emotion support. |
| C．They are efficient in work. |
| D．They can be repaired when damaged. |
| A．To explain robots are more intelligent than humans. |
| B．To prove robots have social ability wherever they are. |
| C．To explain how robots replace humans in non-medical companies. |
| D．To prove McDonald’s and Walmart are famous companies in the world. |
| A．Sharp increase. | B．Low supply. |
| C．Short explosion. | D．Excellent performance. |
| A．The Efficient Tireless Robots | B．Robots Will Replace Humans |
| C．Robots Aid in Coronavirus Fight | D．The demand For Robots Increase |
3 . On average, Americans spend about 10 hours a day in front of a computer or other electronic devices and less than 30 minutes a day outdoors. That is a claim by David Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah. In his 2017 TED Talk, Strayer explained that all this time spent with technology is making our brains tired.
Using an electronic device to answer emails, listen to the news and browse the web puts a lot of pressure on the front of the brain, which, Strayer explains, is important for critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making.
Therefore, it is important to give the brain a rest. And being in nature, Strayer claims, helps a tired brain away from too much technology. More than 15, 000 campers from around the world attended an international camping festival in September. That is when friends and family take time off and escape to nature for several days. They take walks, climb, explore, swim, sleep, eat and play. Camping may be just what a tired brain needs.
Take Carl for example. He lives in West Virginia and enjoys camping. He says that staying outdoors makes him feel at ease. It also prepares him for the work he must do. Kate Somers is another example who also lives in West Virginia. She says she enjoys camping with her husband and two children. She calls it a “regenerative” experience.
At the University of Utah, David Strayer has studied both short-term and long-term exposure to nature. He found that spending short amounts of time in nature without technology does calm the brain and helps it to remember better. However, he found, it is the long-term contact with nature that does the most good. He and his research team found that spending three days in nature without any technology is enough time for the brain to fully relax and reset itself.
1. According to David Strayer, which of the following is true?| A．Americans dislike outdoor activities. |
| B．Electronic equipment should be quitted. |
| C．New technologies also have some downsides. |
| D．Electronic equipment brings great convenience. |
| A．To try another lifestyle. | B．To let our brain relax. |
| C．To make better decisions. | D．To play with our family and friends. |
| A．Refreshing | B．Memorable | C．Remarkable | D．Tiring |
| A．Electronic Equipment Harms the Brain | B．Good Rest Develops Good Memory |
| C．Tips on Using New Technologies | D．Being in Nature Is Good for the Brain |
