1 . Researchers have developed a robotic sensor that combines artificial intelligence techniques to read Braille (盲文) at speeds roughly double that of most human readers. The research team, from the University of Cambridge, used machine learning algorithms (算法) to teach a robotic sensor to quickly slide over lines of Braille text.

The robotic sensor the researchers used has a camera in its “fingertip”, and reads by using a combination of the information from the camera and the sensors. “This is a hard problem for roboticists as there’s a lot of image processing that needs to be done to remove motion blur (模糊), which is time and energy-consuming,” said Parth Potdar from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.

“There are existing robotic Braille readers, but they only read one letter at a time, which is not how humans read, ” said Potdar. “Existing robotic Braille readers work in a static way: They touch one letter pattern, read it, pull up from the surface, move over, lower onto the next letter pattern, and so on. We want something that’s more realistic and far more efficient. ”

The team developed machine learning algorithms so the robotic reader would be able to “deblur” the images before the sensor attempted to recognise the letters. They trained the algorithms on a set of sharp images of Braille with fake blur applied. After the algorithms had learned to deblur the letters, they used a computer vision model to detect and classify each character.

Once the algorithms were incorporated, the researchers tested their render by sliding it quickly along rows of Braille characters. The robotic Braille render could read 315 words per minute with 87% accuracy, which is twice as fast and about as accurate as n human Braille reader.

“Braille reading speed is a great way to measure the dynamic performance of tactile(能触知的)sensing systems, so our findings could be applicable beyond Braille, for applications like detecting surface textures or slippage in robotic manipulation,” said Potdar.

In the future, the researchers are hoping to scale the technology to the size of a humanoid hand.

1. What is difficult for roboticists to deal with in the reading process?

A．Ridding of motion blur.	B．Teaching a robot to learn.
C．Processing robotic sensors.	D．Fixing a camera on the fingertip.

2. What does the underlined word “static” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Still.

B．Fast.

C．Clever.

D．Lazy.

3. What did Potdar want to express in paragraph 6?

A．The good performance of the robot sensor.

B．The promising future of their research results.

C．The factors in making the tactile sensing systems.

D．The way to ensure the accuracy of the technology.

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

A．Technology to be scaled to the size of a humanoid hand

B．Robots trained to read Braille at twice the speed of humans

C．A great way to measure the performance of sensing systems

D．Machine learning algorithms expected to change Braille writing

2 . Lexi is just a little girl from Canada who found herself in a heart-stopping situation. It started off as a normal car trip. Angela Shymanski, Lexi’s mom, was at the wheel, navigating the tricky roads of the Rockies with her daughter Lexi and her baby Peter in the car. An unexpected animal ran into the road. Angela swerved (突然转向) to avoid the animal. Unfortunately, their car was off the road, falling down a steep embankment (路堤).

The crash was nothing short of terrifying. Angela ended up with a broken back. She was unconscious, and unable to help her babies. Meanwhile, baby Peter’s cries echoed in the chaos. But Lexi, only five years old, didn’t freeze. Instead, she showed courage that would leave many grown-ups in awe.

She quickly jumped into action. The little girl, without even shoes on her feet, wrestled free from her seatbelt and climbed the 40-foot embankment. Once she reached the top, Lexi did everything she could to flag down a passing car in order to get help for her mom and brother.

Lexi’s insistence finally paid off. A car stopped, and the people inside didn’t hesitate to help her call for emergency services. When the paramedics (护理人员) arrived, they found Angela in a severe state, and her heart had stopped. Thankfully, they managed to bring her back.

Lexi’s dad, reflecting on the incident, couldn’t help but be amazed by his daughter’s bravery. He stressed how important it is for kids to be prepared for emergencies, shocked at how Lexi remembered and acted on what she had been taught. It’s a powerful reminder of what kids can do when push comes to shove.

And Lexi’s heroism didn’t go unnoticed. She was awarded a Bronze Medal for Bravery by the police. But for the Shymanskis, the real prize was being back in each other’s arms, safe and sound.

1. What caused the accident?

A．The tough road.	B．The children’s noise.
C．A car that suddenly swerved.	D．An animal appearing suddenly.

2. What was Lexi’s first move after the accident?

A．Putting on her shoes.	B．Managing to get out of the car.
C．Flagging down a passing car.	D．Scaling the 40-foot embankment.

3. What can we learn about Lexi from paragraph 5?

A．Her heroic action deserved recognition.	B．Her dad knew her daughter well enough.
C．She had learned how to deal with emergencies.	D．It was important for her to face some emergencies.

4. Which of the following can best describe Lexi?

A．Brave and honest.	B．Calm and courageous.
C．Thoughtful but stubborn.	D．Caring but naughty.

3 . Those in the food industry understand the difficulty that comes from working with people. No matter how much you try, some customers are never _______. If you make one mistake, some people are likely to lose _______. This situation took place at a McDonald’s in suburban Atlanta.

A customer approached the drive-through window _______. He threw a drink back at the pregnant fast food worker who handed it to him. Most would find that unthinkable. Yet, he felt _______ because the drink was not what he wanted.

Bryanna was the _______ in this incident. It was so _______ to her that she couldn’t even figure out what was happening. She was _______ and covered in ice and soda.

The customer next in line who witnessed what happened was Feroza Eyed. She _______ the incident via Facebook after things took place. “I’ve never seen anyone _______ that way, especially to do that to a pregnant worker, which was just ________.”

When Feroza approached the drive-through, she ________ the fast food worker a cash tip to comfort her. She had yet another ________— set up an online registry for Bryanna’s baby. Feroza ________ maybe she could raise $300 or $400 for Bryanna to buy something nice. But by 24 hours later people had donated $1,700. Feroza was just obviously going crazy with ________.

Through this, Feroza and Bryanna have become friends. It’s just ________ to see such love and happiness.

1.

A．confused

B．frightened

C．troubled

D．satisfied

2.

A．temper

B．passion

C．sight

D．temperature

3.

A．sadly

B．angrily

C．happily

D．patiently

4.

A．convinced

B．embarrassed

C．justified

D．misunderstood

5.

A．interviewer

B．victim

C．looker-on

D．witness

6.

A．unpleasant

B．reliable

C．responsible

D．avoidable

7.

A．warning

B．weeping

C．begging

D．checking

8.

A．heard of

B．thought of

C．spoke of

D．dreamed of

9.

A．admit

B．behave

C．follow

D．approve

10.

A．wonderful

B．funny

C．necessary

D．awful

11.

A．paid

B．charged

C．offered

D．afforded

12.

A．principle

B．program

C．destination

D．idea

13.

A．assumed

B．realized

C．recognized

D．recalled

14.

A．regret

B．relief

C．reward

D．joy

15.

A．inspiring

B．demanding

C．amusing

D．puzzling

5 . Princeton University Art Event

Program Information for Gaucho: A New Musical

March 8-10, 2024, in Wallace Theater

Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater &Music Theater.

Gaucho:A New Musical

Book, music and lyries (歌词) by Princeton University seniors Aaron Ventresca and Emmu Ventresca; directed by lecturer Nicuo Krell with music direction by guest artist Gia Gan.

Run Time

Approximately 2 hours(including a 10-minute intermission).

Setting

In this new musical set in nineteenth-century Argentina, the gaucho (高乔人) community of San Antonio de Areco (a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) faces growing threats to its traditional way of life from large landowners’ newest technology-barbed (带刺的) wire fence. A young gaucho named Mateo struggles to break free from his family’s dying way of life to become a writer. Then with some help, Mateo escapes to Buenos Aires. There, he meets Sofia, who shakes his narrow-minded view of the world. As modernity takes shape, Mateo is torn between choices:his family or the one he could create, his culture or the movements of the world.

Special Notes

No flash photography permitted. Please silence all electronic devices including mobile phone and watches, and avoid text messaging for the duration of the performance.

Tickets &Details

Performances are free and open to the public;advance tickets required. If a performance is listed as sold out, a wait list will be formed at the door with a limited number of tickets available.

Accessibility

The Wallace Theater is an accessible venue with an assistive listening system. Guests in need of other access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at least one week in advance at lewiscenter@princeton. edu.

1. Who created the Gaucho: A New Musical?

A．Guest artist Gia Gan.

B．Two university students.

C．Lecturer Nico Krell.

D．Artists in the Wallace Theater.

2. What is the theme of the musical?

A．A romantic love story.

B．A movement of culture.

C．The change of lifestyle.

D．The immigration of a community.

3. What are people required to do to watch the musical?

A．Pay for performances in advance.

B．Wait in line at the door of the theatre.

C．Contact the Lewis Center for tickets.

D．Switch off their electronic devices.

6 . Nick Rose-Stamey is a lot like Jack Black’s character in School of Rock- a guitarist who discovers a passion for making music accessible to children. Working in the nonprofit arts education sector over the last 10 years raised his awareness of the lack of music programs in public schools, and later inspired his nonprofit, Band in a Bus. “The original idea was to take an old school bus and turn it into the best band class on wheels,” he says.

In fact, activities of Band in a Bus don’t actually happen on a bus. It provides instruments, courses, and staffing to students. Kids 18 and under can also participate in enriching summer programs through Band in a Bus, such as Bucket Brigade, five weekly classes where grades K-4 learn rhythm (节奏) and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) principles through contemporary music. There are also teen bands for grades 7-12 where kids learn to play pop music and develop social and team work skills.

When schools went virtual during the COVID-19 period, Rose-Stamey thought it was a shame that instruments were left sitting on shelves instead of in the hands of kids. So he created and distributed more than 1,000 “Band in a Box” DIY kits. Each kit contains small noise makers like kazoos, drumsticks, and shakers, with the intention of introducing a modernized music class experience that meets kids where they are.

“It is reported that if a kid has 30 minutes of a performing arts or creative elective every singleday, then that’ll help them develop their social, emotional and leadership skills, because there’s a lot of team work when it comes to making music. You have to learn how to work well with others,” Rose-Stamey says.

In the last year, Band in a Bus has worked directly with more than 500 students. “Music is a win-win for everybody,” Rose-Stamey says. “I just hope that someday we can stop making it the first kid out in the dodge ball (躲避球) game.”

1. What motivated Rose-Stamey to establish Band in a Bus?

A．The movie School of Rock.	B．The band classes in public schools.
C．His music learning experiences.	D．Insufficient music education.

2. What can we say about Bucket Brigade classes?

A．They mainly focus on pop music.	B．They are usually organized on a bus.
C．They encourage team-building activities.	D．They combine music with other subjects.

3. What is the purpose of “Band in a Box”?

A．To promote noise making instrumental kits.

B．To help students gain access to music at home.

C．To lift students’ mood during the COVID-19 period.

D．To enable students to take creative electives every day.

4. What can we infer from Rose-Stamey’s words in the last paragraph?

A．We should treat every student equally.

B．We should give music enough importance.

C．We should reconsider the rules of the dodge ball game.

D．We should encourage fair competition in various activities.

7 . 阅读短文内容，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Peasants (II)

At noon they hoe up weeds;

Their sweat drips on the soil.

Who knows the rice that feeds

Is the fruit of hard toil!

Food is a necessity for survival. But do you know how much work goes into producing it? The poem The Peasants (II),     1     (write) by Li Shen, a Tang Dynasty poet, shows     2     (we) the hardship of the peasants.

The first two lines describe a common scene     3     peasants are working their lands at noon with the sun     4     (hang) high in the sky, sweat dripping. In the last two lines, the poet     5     (direct) points out that the rice we eat is the fruit of peasants’ hard work.

Simple as the poem is in its language, it is profound in the theme, reminding people     6     the significance of treasuring food. According to the FAO, an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food, or one-third of     7     total food produced for human consumption, is wasted globally each year. Therefore, it’s highly suggested that every grain of rice     8     (value). In China, we have adopted a law on food waste     9     (offer) legal backing to the country’s efforts which not only safeguard food security     10     promote the traditional virtue of thrift (节俭) as well.

Next time you want to throw away food, please think twice.

8 . The cuisine that marks Christmas is as diverse as the people feasting on it. Here’s a look at how the locals celebrate Christmas through cuisine in their countries, which will give you a glimpse of the celebrations.

England

The real festivities start on Christmas morning with champagne and smoked salmon. After the King’s or Queen’s annual Christmas speech, it’s time for the main meal, typically including a turkey or roast beef accompanied by various side dishes.

France

The French celebrate their Christmas Eve with a lavish meal, with seafood served first. The main course usually consists of a rooster that’s renowned for its tenderness. Fine red wine from Burgundy can’t be missed of course.

Italy

Similar to France, Italians celebrate Christmas on the eve. The locals typically attend midnight Mass and then indulge in a lavish meal before heading to church. For the main course, northern Italians often have stuffed turkey, while those in seaside areas may feast on a large baked sea bass accompanied by roasted potatoes and vegetables.

Greece

After attending an early morning holy communion in church on Christmas, Greeks go home for an all-day eating gathering. Families gather around the fireplace, feasting on a special wheat bread only made at Christmas. Later, the main course may include roast chicken stuffed with chestnuts.

1. What activity distinguishes England in Christmas celebration?

A．The seafood-themed dinner.	B．The yearly Royal address.
C．The religious ceremony.	D．The main course featuring turkey.

2. To experience the religious atmosphere, you’d better spend Christmas in ________.

A．France and Italy.	B．England and France.
C．England and Greece.	D．Italy and Greece.

3. From which column of the magazine is the passage probably from?

A．Religion and culture.	B．Diet and health.
C．Festival and tradition.	D．Sports and fitness.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式

Yangko, a rural Chinese folk dance with a history     1     (date) back thousands of years, originates from farming life in ancient times. The dance relates to sacrifices to the farmland god when people prayed for a good harvest. As time passed, the     2     (origin) dance developed, taking in various artistic forms and skills, including opera, acrobatics and martial arts, and eventually turned into the type of Yangko     3     is seen today.

    4     (preserve) this Chinese folk culture, it was included in the inaugural(首批的)items of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. It is     5     (common) performed in northern China during festivals, especially for Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Performances or competitions     6     (organize) in towns and villages to express people’s joy and their hope for a better life.

Yangko employs drumming, Suona, dancing and singing. Content is based     7     folk stories and legends. Costumes are richly-colored and opera-styled, enabling     8     (character) to be easily identified. During a performance, the actors will dance and sing, following lively rhythms. Highly. skilled and interesting acts such as stilt(高跷)walking     9     carrying a wedding sedan chair(花轿)are also included. As a part of traditional Chinese culture, Yangko     10     (concentrate) the group consciousness of the Chinese people, and has outstanding historical and cultural value.

10 . Have you heard of these four monuments?

Carhenge. Floralis Genérica. Traffic Light Tree. Hand of the Desert — these are four unusual monuments from around the world you might like to visit.

• Carhenge

Carhenge is in Alliance, Nebraska (USA). As the name suggests, it has a lot in common with Stonehenge, the famous stone circle on Salisbury Plain. But while Stonehenge was built with stones, Carhenge was created with cars. The monument was made in 1987 by a local artist Jim Reinders and his family. He used old cars and even an ambulance. At first, the people of Alliance didn’t like it, but they soon changed their minds after it became popular with tourists, who brought lots of money to the town.

• Floralis Genérica

Floralis Genérica is a massive statue of a flower. It stands in a pool of water in front of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eduardo Catalano, a native of Argentina, gave the statue as a gift to the city in 2002. Every morning, the flower opens. Ask anyone who has seen it and they’ll tell you that watching it open is an unforgettable sight. In fact, many people believe it is one of the most beautiful statues in the world.

• Traffic Light Tree

The Traffic Light Tree is situated at Heron Quay, in one of London’s financial districts. The tree has 75 sets of traffic lights. It was created by French artist, Pierre Vivant, and was installed in 1998. A computer controls the lights, which are turned on and off randomly. The roundabout where the tree is was voted the most popular roundabout in the UK in a recent survey.

• Mano del Desierto (Hand of the Desert)

The Hand of the Desert is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The sculpture was designed by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal. From a distance, it looks as if there’s a giant in the sand who has stuck his hand out of the ground.

If you’re looking for something new to see, you know where to go!

1. Why did the people of Alliance change their attitude toward Carhenge?

A．It reminded them of Stonehenge.	B．It brought them financial benefits.
C．It added beauty to their community.	D．It displayed the creativity of the designer.

2. Which of the four monuments was designed by a foreign artist?

A．Carhenge.	B．Floralis Genérica.
C．Traffic Light Tree.	D．Mano del Desierto.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guide book.	B．A news report.
C．A science magazine.	D．An architecture advertisement.