1 . Traditionally, robots have been hard, made of metal and other rigid material. But a team of scientists at Harvard University in the US has managed to build an entirely soft robot-one that draws inspiration from an octopus (章鱼).
Described in science journal Nature, the “Octobot” could pave the way for more effective autonomous robots that could be used in search，rescue and exploration. “The Octobot is minimal system which may serve as a foundation for a new generation of completely soft, autonomous robots” the study’s authors wrote.
Robots built for precise, repetitive movements in a controlled environment don’t do so well on rough terrains (地形) or in unpredictable conditions. And they aren’t especially safe around humans, because they’re made out of hard and heavy parts that could be potentially dangerous to their users.
So researchers have been working on building soft robots for decades. They’re taken inspiration from nature, looking to animals from jellyfish to cockroaches, which are often made up of more flexible matter.
But creating a completely soft robot remains a challenge. Even if engineers build a silicone (硅酮) body, it’s still a grand challenge to construct flexible versions of essential parts, such as a source of power.
“Although soft robotics is still in its early stage, it holds great promise for several applications, such as search-rescue operations and exploration,” Barbara Mazzolai and Virgilio Mattoli of the Italian Institute of Technology’ Center for Micro-BioRobotics, wrote in a comment. “Soft robots might also open up new approaches to improving wellness and quality of life.”
1. What’s the special feature of “Octobot”？| A．It’s soft. | B．It’s made of metal. |
| C．It’s very small. | D．It looks like an octopus. |
| A．They’re hard to control. | B．They’re too heavy to move. |
| C．They can’t predict conditions. | D．They can’t behave well all the time. |
| A．silicone body | B．complex components |
| C．precise movements | D．flexible power source |
| A．Medical research. | B．Life rescue. |
| C．Machine operation. | D．House cleaning. |
2 . The number of snow geese arriving in the Arctic each spring to breed has risen over the past few decades. At first, wildlife biologists saw this as an environmental crisis, pointing to marshes（湿 地 ） where plants were eaten by the hungry birds. In response, the federal government loosened restrictions on snow goose hunting.
But how do the Inuit, in whose backyard this is taking place, view the situation? A recent plan is giving Inuit wildlife experts the opportunity to lend their knowledge to managing the species. The snow goose study, which is supported in part by Polar Knowledge Canada and led by the Kivalliq Wildlife Board (an Inuit organization that manages hunting, trapping and fishing in central Nunavut), asked the experts to share their generations of knowledge about snow geese and their views on what should be done.
“The community had concerns about controlling the population,” says Ron, a community officer of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, “and Inuit snow goose knowledge had never been recorded. People wanted to pass on what they knew.” Inuit experts disagreed with that, considering it wasteful and unnecessary. They felt hunting more snow geese in an organized way, such as paying local hunters a minimal amount of money and distributing the birds to disadvantaged families or operating a limited commercial hunt by employing local people, would be appropriate.
Inuit wildlife experts will plan to call on scientists this fall. They say they hope to search for a common way forward and that while there may be too many snow geese in some areas, it’s not a crisis. Biologists now generally agree that there seem to be plenty of undamaged marshes available and newer research shows that some damaged areas can recover.
“Now that we have recorded and documented Inuit knowledge of snow geese,” says Ron, “when facing the crisis other people will be able to use the information to help manage the species, which is fundamental to dealing with it effectively.”
1. Why did the federal government loosen limitations on snow goose hunting?| A．To make more profits. | B．To create more marshes. |
| C．To wipe out the hungry birds. | D．To protect the ecosystem. |
| A．Organizing large commercial hunts. |
| B．Using snow goose hunting to man’s best advantage. |
| C．Regarding too many snow geese as a crisis. |
| D．Hunting as many snow geese as possible. |
| A．It’s a bit promising. | B．It’s unpredictable. |
| C．It’s too discouraging. | D．It’s hard to get better. |
| A．The species. | B．Inuit knowledge. |
| C．The crisis. | D．Inuit research. |
3 . At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their allowances on things like candy and toys, Jose Adolfo Quisocola was busy saving money for basic purchases. To try to get his peers（同 龄 人 ） to do the same, the boy from Peru came up with the idea of an eco-bank, the Bartselana
Student Bank, which allows kids of all ages to become financially independent while also helping the environment.
Set up in 2012, the bank is the world’s first bank for kids. To become a member, a kid has to bring in at least 5 kilograms of solid waste and set a savings goal. Once accepted, all bank “partners” are required to deposit at least one additional kilogram of recyclables on a monthly basis and observe other requirements, such as attending financial education and environmental management workshops.
The waste accumulated is sold to local recycling companies, who, thanks to Jose’s efforts, pay a higher-than-market rate for everything brought in by the bank members. The money received is placed in the personal account where they collect until the savings goal is reached. The account holder can then withdraw the money, or choose to leave it and continue to grow for a bigger target. “At the beginning, my teachers thought I was crazy or that a child could not undertake this type of project,” Jose recalls, “They did not understand that we are not the future of the country but its present. Luckily, I had the support of the school headmaster and an assistant in my class.”
The boy’s efforts paid off, and by 2013, the bank had over 200 members, who brought in one ton of recyclable waste. Today, the eco-bank, which now has the support of several local institutions, boasts ten educational centers. They are designed to teach the over 3,000 students, aged 10 to 18 , to become financially independent, use their money wisely, and help the environment.
Not surprisingly, Jose’s efforts have earned him several national and international awards. On November 20, 2018, Jose won Children’s Climate Prize, which comes with a medal and $5,500 in prize money and is given to a child or youth who has accomplished an extraordinary achievement for the climate or environment.
1. Why did Jose set up the bank?| A．To raise money and set up a recycling company. |
| B．To buy necessities and donate them to needy kids. |
| C．To save much money and protect the environment. |
| D．To educate the students and help them win prizes. |
| A．By donating to the eco-bank. |
| B．By turning in one kilogram of waste in a month. |
| C．By sending in an application. |
| D．By presenting a goal and a certain amount of waste. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Excited. |
| C．Moved. | D．Worried. |
| A．How the environment is improved. | B．What the project has achieved. |
| C．How tons of waste has been recycled. | D．What support the local institutions get. |
4 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses （球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?| A．Cycling around a lake. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
| A．it is an outdoor sport |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it uses fewer resources |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to go in for green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
5 . We’ve all experienced peer pressure (同伴压力) . It happens to everybody. However, people have different reactions. Confident people refuse to do things they don’t want to do, but shy and anxious people often give in. It may be because they want to be liked. It may be because they worry that their friends will make fun of them, or perhaps they’re just curious about trying something new.
It’s hard being the only one who says no and the question is: how do you do it?
If you think that missing maths, or smoking, or going somewhere you know your parents wouldn’t like is a bad idea then the answer is simple: don’t do it. It’s your decision, nobody else’s. You don’t need to be aggressive. You don’t need to shout and scream, but you must be confident and you must be firm. You need to say, “No thanks. I don’t want to do that.”
Being on your own against everybody else is very hard, so it can really help to have at least one other peer, or friend, who will say no too.
| A．It may be because they were all born to be stubborn. |
| B．Depression and guilt will surely give you peer pressure. |
| C．Whatever the reason, some people end up doing things the really don’t want to. |
| D．Of course, peer pressure isn’t completely bad. |
| E．Choose your friends carefully. |
| F．Firstly, you must decide what you believe in. |
| G．It’s about sharing experiences and having fun. |
6 . He's an old cobbler with a shop in the Marais, a historic area in Paris. When I took him my shoes, he at first told me: “I haven't time. Take them to the other fellow on the main street; he'll fix them for you right away.”
But I'd had my eye on his shop for a long time. Just looking at his bench loaded with tools and pieces of leather, I knew he was a skilled craftsman. “No,” I replied, “the other fellow can't do it well.”
“The other fellow” was one of those shopkeepers who fix shoes and make keys “while-U-wait” -- without knowing much about mending shoes or making keys. They work carelessly, and when they have finished sewing back a sandal strap you might as well just throw away the pair.
My man saw I wouldn't give in, and he smiled. He wiped his hands on his blue apron, looked at my shoes, had me write my name on one shoe with a piece of chalk and said, “Come back in a week.”
I was about to leave when he took a pair of soft leather boots off a shelf.
“See what I can do?” he said with pride. “Only three of us in Paris can do this kind of work.”
When I got back out into the street, the world seemed brand-new to me. He was something out of an ancient legend, this old craftsman with his way of speaking familiarly, his very strange, dusty felt hat, his funny accent from who-knows-where and, above all, his pride in his craft.
These are times when nothing is important but the bottom line, when you can do things any old way as long as it “pays”, when, in short, people look on work as a path to ever-increasing consumption (消费) rather than a way to realize their own abilities. In such a period it is a rare comfort to find a cobbler who gets his greatest satisfaction from pride in a job well done.
1. Which of the following is true about the old cobbler?| A．He was equipped with the best repairing tools. |
| B．He was the only cobbler in the Marais. |
| C．He was proud of his skills. |
| D．He was a native Parisian. |
| A．nowadays you can hardly find anyone like him |
| B．it was difficult to communicate with this man |
| C．the man was very strange |
| D．the man was too old |
| A．realize their abilities | B．gain happiness |
| C．make money | D．gain respect |
| A．craftsmen make a lot of money | B．whatever you do, do it well |
| C．craftsmen need self-respect | D．people are born equal |
7 . A quarter of today’s UK children are living in families which cause more than one risk to their educational development, a study says.
Institute of Education researchers analyzed 10 risk factors affecting more than 18,000 families. Risks included financial stress, teenage parenthood, depression, low skills and alcohol abuse. Previous research suggests families with multiple risk factors are the most damaging. According to the research, just over four in ten people experienced no risk factors in their early childhood, while a third faced only one. It would mean 192.000 UK children born 10 years ago have been growing up in families with multiple risks to their development.
The paper's authors found that those who had grown up with two or more risk factors had poorer behavioral development scores at ages three and five. They also did worse in standard vocabulary tests at these ages. The report, published by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, said. “Children living in families with both multiple risks and low income faced the worst across most developmental outcomes.”
“These children achieved the lowest change in vocabulary test scores between ages three and five.” Professor Dex added. “The most reassuring thing is that if you come into contact with just one of these risk factors, there is a fairly modest effect on children. She suggested that health visitors could be aware of families where there were two or more of these indicators, and offer help. ”
The government has pledged to turn around the lives of England's 120.000 most troubled families by 2015. To qualify for help, the families need to meet five out of seven criteria including truanting (旷课的）children, parents with addiction and anti -social behavior.
1. According to the research, what families are the most damaging to children's educational development?| A．Families with no risk factors. |
| B．Families with two or more children. |
| C．Families with two or more risk factors. |
| D．Families with the only financial stress. |
| A．They didn't care about developmental outcomes. |
| B．They had poorer behavioral development in high school. |
| C．They tended to behave better in dealing with different risks. |
| D．They tended to perform worse in vocabulary tests in their early childhood. |
| A．promised | B．refused |
| C．hesitated | D．failed |
教他认识中国汉字以示感谢。就此请你用英语给他写一封电子邮件，内容包括
1．对受邀表示感谢
2．简要回忆音乐会
3．提出教他汉字作为回报。
注意
1．词数100左右
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
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In 1940, four teenage boys and their dog were walking through the woodland close to Lascaux when their dog suddenly disappeared. The boys searched all around. They came to a cave and looked into the cave
A few days later, the boys returned to the cave. They could hardly believe
The famous Lascaux Cave is made up of a large hole and
Today, the caves have computer-controlled air-conditioning and are inspected daily. Scientists hope that these precautions (预防措施) can prevent any
10 . Located in Los Angeles, University of Southern California is in the heart of a leading city. Although LA ranks highly in The Economist’s Safe Cities Index, navigating and city calls for certain safety precautions (预防措施) along with practicing common sense.
♦ Mobile Safety App Powered by LiveSafe
The Mobile Safety App powered by LiveSafe, manage by the USC Department of Public Safety and the USC Department of Emergency Planning, is a free downloadable app that mobile users can use to initiate contact with emergency responders around the campus. Features include: immediate “push button” calls to DPS, easy reporting for suspicious activity or crimes in progress, and location services to notify friends of your route through campus.
♦ Blue Light Phone Locations
The University Park has multiple blue light phones that are strategically placed throughout campus. Take note of where the closest ones are on your route. They come in handy in case you lose your phone or in an emergency. These phones are directly connected to USC’s Department of Public Safety’s 24-hour communications center. Besides emergency needs, it can also be used to report suspicious activity, request for an escort (护送) if you feel unsafe and to report a crime.
♦ Trojans Alert
Trojans Alert is an emergency notification system that allows university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message or email. When an emergency occurs, authorized USC senders will instantly notify you with real-time updates, instructions on where to go, what to do (or what not to do), whom to contact and other important information. All members of the USC community, as well as parents and regular visitors to campus, are strongly encouraged to sign up for Trojans Alert.
1. What do blue light phones do for students?| A．Guide students through campus. |
| B．Alert students to crime activities. |
| C．Light up the way if students feel unsafe. |
| D．Connect them with the safety department. |
| A．With blue light phones. |
| B．Via text message or email. |
| C．Through mobile safe app. |
| D．By calling all USC members. |
| A．To encourage students to fight crime. |
| B．To introduce USC’s safety department. |
| C．To provide safety services for USC students. |
| D．To inform parents of safety risks on campus. |
