1 . What will restaurants look like in the future? What would your dinner taste like if a robot cooked it? A robot restaurant in Tianjin may give you the answers.
Covering an area of over 400 square meters with a total of 112 seats, the X Future Restaurant is a robot restaurant that opened in November 2018. The restaurant has amazed customers with its fully-automated (全自动的) technology, which covers every step of the dining experience, from ordering to cooking to serving the dishes and even taking payment.
Entering the restaurant, one can order dishes by simply scanning the QR codes on the table. There are over 40 choices of dishes. After taking the order, “robot cooks” prepare dishes using fixed time, temperature and ingredients designed by famous Chinese cooks.
“As the cooking is controlled by a computer system, the taste and quality of dishes can be good,” said Li Xiaokui, manager of the X Future Restaurant.
Robots also complete the delivery of dishes. Without following any designed route, the robot waiters serve meals thanks to automated driving technology, which helps each robot timely change its route when something is in the way.
These eye-catching technologies have received wide praise from customers. “The dishes taste surprisingly good. I couldn’t believe that they were made by robots, especially dishes that were difficult to cook.” one customer said. “The application of robots has increased our efficiency and cut down our costs,” Li said, “I think robot restaurants will develop fast and have a bright future.”
1. What do we know about the X Future Restaurant?| A．It covers over 112 square meters with 400 seats. |
| B．Robot waiters deliver dishes following fixed routes. |
| C．Customers could enjoy fully-automated services. |
| D．Robot cooks design dishes by themselves. |
| A．They are prepared by human cooks. |
| B．They are not easy for robots to prepare. |
| C．They are not accepted by customers. |
| D．They are ordered by scanning QR codes. |
| A．The choices of dishes are limited. |
| B．It takes a long time for the robots to prepare the dishes. |
| C．Customers are willing to dine in the restaurant. |
| D．The delivery routes are designed by the waiters. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Doubtful. | C．Puzzled. | D．Worried. |
2 . Distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has made both physical and social connections a touch more difficult to maintain. For Stanford University student Millie Salvato, being apart from her friend on the opposite coast has proved challenging. Sometimes a text or video call is not enough, and people in Salvato’s situation often long for a way to send a comforting hug from afar. In a new study detailed in IEEE Transactions on Haptics, she and her colleagues demonstrated a wearable sleeve that can simulate (模拟) human touch and convey social messages sent electronically.
Salvato and her team measured how 37 participants expressed social messages in different situations. In each test, one person wore a pressure-sensing device on an arm, and another touched it to respond to six different scenes: attention seeking, gratitude, happiness, calming, love and sadness. After collecting 661 touch movements, Salvato and her colleagues mapped the location and pressure of each. Next, they used a machine-learning algorithm (算法) to select the movements that were most reliable part of each response. Finally, they programmed a wearable sleeve to simulate these movements using eight built-in disks that vibrate when electronically signaled. “The instant it received signals, I could feel the touch and identify its intended meaning.” One participant reported.
Even with no training, the participants correctly matched the simulated touches to the six scenes 45 percent of the time. For comparison, a previous study found participants could match scenes for touches from real human hands 55 percent of the time.
Gerling, a touch researcher at Harvard who was not involved in the study, said the invention was really surprising. But the study was small and needs to cover far larger groups of people to determine exactly which are the most desirable responses. Besides, he believes the sleeve surely will enjoy great popularity once launched on the market.
1. What were participants asked to do during the study?| A．Pick up reliable responses. | B．Model on electronic touches. |
| C．Respond to different situations. | D．Mark out programmed movements. |
| A．To keep track of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| B．To imitate human touch and express social messages sent electronically . |
| C．To enjoy great popularity once launched on the market. |
| D．To stress the significance of physical and social connections . |
| A．Covering more scenes. | B．Launching on the market. |
| C．Conducting further research. | D．Interviewing the participants. |
| A．Electronic Sleeves Helping Feel Virtual Touch |
| B．New Technology Improving Social Connections |
| C．New Sensing Device Increasing Physical Touches |
| D．Electronic Sleeves Responding to Different Situations |
3 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.
In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.
The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.
They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.
So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.
1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?| A．An amazing autumn game. | B．A common sight in gardens. |
| C．A hot attraction in the north. | D．An extreme weather event. |
| A．Fallen leaves need not be cleared. |
| B．Fallen leaves protect shorter grass. |
| C．Fallen leaves block photosynthesis. |
| D．Fallen leaves are hard to break down. |
| A．it ruins city image | B．it breaks gardening rules |
| C．it affects local economy | D．it causes ecological damage |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Unclear. | D．Worried. |
4 . Post your problems on the blog and get other bloggers’ advice!
| My problem is my parents. They never stop going on about how I should keep my room tidy(整洁的), keep my hair tidy and wear smart clothes. They even make me do the washing-up after dinner every night!What should I do? Helen, USA | My best friend has suddenly become an ex-friend and I don’t know why! Last week we phoned each other every day and emailed too. But at school on Monday she didn’t look at me or speak to me. I don’t know what I’ve done. Gimbya, India | |
| Hi，Helen， I think you should do what your parents ask. You should respect them. It’s their house you live in and their money you spend. . Emily, New Zealand | Why do you think you’re the only one with parents like that? All parents are the same. They don’t understand that fashions have changed in the last 30 years! Tom，America | I feel sorry for you, Gimbya. My best friend did the same to me and I still don’t know the reason. Could you ask another friend to speak to her for you? George，France |
| Helen, why should your parents do all the housework?You should help around the house. I think it’s OK for students to wear school uniforms. Teenagers should look like teenagers. Simon, Scotland | Don’t worry about it so much! Phone your friend up as usual and she won’t be able to ignore(忽视) you. Everything will be fine. Aisha, Nigeria | |
| A．classmates | B．study | C．parents | D．room |
| A．George | B．Aisha | C．Helen | D．Ali |
| A．Tom and Emily | B．Emily and Simon | C．Simon and Tom | D．Aisha and George |
5 . Interactive Virtual Science Lab
What if you are home-schooled and your family can’t afford to build a lab at your home? These are realistic, interactive, virtual lab experiments that 9th-12th grade home-schooled students love and can perform from the convenience of home.
Subjects Options Offered:
1. Biology 2. Chemistry 3. Physics
How Does It Work?
A student is registered for one-week lab experiments that include:
●Daily 20-30 minute online class(each weekday for one week)with Greg Landry for instruction. This includes instruction on creating high quality lab reports and background instruction for each of the ten lab experiments we`ll conduct. Students can attend the live class or use the recording.
●Students will have a daily task(conduct two experiments in our interactive virtual lab and create two lab reports)to turn in.
●There are no supplies with our online lab experiments! Everything is done online in our interactive lab! With their mouse and keyboard, students follow a step-by-step “method”(also called “procedure”)to perform all the steps in the experiment.
●Students record all data from the experiment in their lab notebook and create a lab report which will be graded by Greg Landry and instructed for improvement.
About the instructor
Greg Landry is a 20-year experienced home-school dad and former college professor. He has taught several thousand home-schooled students for over 20 years.
Tuition
$390 for each student.
Questions? Click Here to Contact Greg Landry.
1. For whom is this text written?| A．Adults crazy about science. | B．Lab teachers giving lessons online. |
| C．Teachers for home-schooled students. | D．Science-loving students learning at home. |
| A．Finish one lab report each day. | B．Operate all experiments on computer. |
| C．Prepare equipment before class begins. | D．Finish tasks with data given by Greg Landry. |
| A．Advertisement. | B．Computer. |
| C．Literature. | D．Technology. |
6 . Welcome to SummerCamps.com; find and book the very best summer camps. Your children are precious so we offer the highest quality of camps that will meet each child’s interests in challenging and exciting camp activities. All the camps feature outdoor recreation and adventure, which make sure the activities are fun, engaging and meaningful.
Catalina Sea Camp
Sea Camp offers three one-week sessions to boys and girls aged 8-13 and two three-week sessions to teens aged 12-17. Our hand-picked instructors create an atmosphere of fun and excitement while leading campers to a host of ocean adventures, marine (海洋的) biology, and social summer camp activities.
Address: Toyon Way, San Bruno, California 94066
Phone: 800-645-1423
Camp Rockmont
Camp Rockmont is a Christian summer camp for boys, aged 6-16, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Rockmont’s duty of developing boys into healthy young men is accomplished through age-appropriate skills, activities, and challenges that help campers to know themselves better.
Address: 375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711
Phone: 828-686-3885
Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps
Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps offer week-long Summer Adventure Overnight Camps in New York’s Finger Lakes to your children aged 11-15. Campers experience a week of nature-based skills training, inspiring challenges, and fun activities under the instruction of skilled instructors.
Address: 611 County Rd 13, Van Etten, New York 14889
Phone: 607-272-2292
1. What is special about Camp Rockmont?| A．It’s targeted at older boys. | B．It needs professional skills to accomplish the tasks. |
| C．It is a camp related to religion. | D．It is accomplished outdoors. |
| A．Campers. | B．Educators. | C．Children. | D．Parents. |
| A．Each camp holds adventurous activities for the campers. |
| B．Children can stay in each camp for more than one week. |
| C．Each camp allows boys and girls of more than 6 years old to join in. |
| D．Children need to solve all the problems by themselves in each camp. |
7 . New Zealand’s government recently announced it will help pay for poorer families to replace their old cars with cleaner hybrid(混合动力的)or electric vehicles. The government said it plans to spend $357 million on the test program.
The move is part of a wider plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are believed to cause warming temperatures in the Earth’s atmosphere. New Zealand plans to provide aid for businesses to reduce emissions and have buses that run on environmentally safe fuel by 2035. The government also plans to provide food-waste collection for most homes by 2030.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardem said in a statement, “We’ve all seen the recent reports on sea level rise and its influence right here in New Zealand. We cannot leave the issue of climate change until it’s too late to fix.” The plan is a step toward New Zealand’s stated goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Reaching net-zero emissions means not creating more carbon in the atmosphere than oceans and forests can remove. Ardern said that reducing dependence on traditional fuels would help protect families from extreme price increases. The plan also sets a goal of reducing total car travel by 20 percent over the next 13 years. The programs will be paid for from a $2.8 billion climate emergency response fund.
Officials said that over time, money collected from polluters would pay for the programs rather than taxes from families. Some critics of the plan say it continued to be less restrictive on New Zealand’s huge agriculture industry. Agriculture creates more than half of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. But the industry is also important to the economy as the nation’s biggest export earner.
David Seymour is the leader of New Zealand’s ACT political party. He said that some of the announced programs are proven to be ineffective and have been tried and failed overseas. Seymour added that people should be able to choose how they reduce emissions through the market-basedd emissions trading plan.
1. Which of the following is NOT New Zealand planning to do?| A．Buy cars for poor families. | B．Offer assistance to business. |
| C．Use environmentally safe fuels. | D．Spend money on the test program. |
| A．Setting aside the problem. | B．Realizing the stated goal. |
| C．Addressing the issue early. | D．Decreasing dependence on traditional fuels. |
| A．New Zealand aims to control carbon emissions. |
| B．The move has a goal of reducing the use of buses. |
| C．Achieving net-zero emissions means creating no carbon. |
| D．Agriculture makes less importance in the nation’s economy. |
| A．Negative. | B．Objective. | C．Favorable | D．Unconcerned. |
Founded in 1956, New Scientist is the world’s most popular weekly science and technology magazine. The magazine’s teams in London and around the world cover international news from a scientific standpoint and ask the biggest-picture questions about life, the universe, and what it means to be human.
We’re offering a learning and development opportunity open to anyone. Successful applicants will begin a 6-month internship in October. The internship will be based in our High Street Kensington office, London.
Internship positions: two news interns and one video intern
● News interns will receive one to cone mentoring (指导) from an experienced journalist and on-the-job training in news and features writing, with your work published both online and in print.
● Our video intern will be based in our video team, You’ll learn how to produce scientific videos from idea to publication. You’ll have the opportunity to come with us on shoots and be trained in camerawork. You’ll also receive training in news writing and subediting (编辑校订).
Entry requirements:
● You will have completed a science, technology, engineering, mathematics or computing degree by the start of the internship.
● You have a demonstrable interest in writing, video editing or journalism.
Other important information:
● Please submit 200 words explaining how you meet these requirements, which internship position you are applying for, and why you are the right person for this internship.
● Please write an article on a recent scientific discovery, between 500 and 800 words (for news intern applications) or create a 2～3-minute video on a scientific topic that interests you (for video intern applications).
Please send your application to Tashan Chong-Kan-t, chongkan@dmgmedia.co.uk before July 12!
1. How will the interns benefit from the positions?| A．They will choose workplaces at will. | B．They will become famous online. |
| C．They will get professional training. | D．They will lead an independent team. |
| A．A relevant educational background. | B．Rich experience in video editing. |
| C．The ability to produce news videos. | D．A wide range of interests and hobbies. |
| A．A printed work in journalism. | B．A brief personal statement. |
| C．A recent scientific discovery. | D．A short video about daily life. |
9 . Nowadays, with the popularity of modern traffic and modern communication means, our world is becoming much smaller. Thus our life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago, but meanwhile it has brought new problems, the biggest one of which is pollution. For a long time ever since, man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution.
To pollute means to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear it. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in one place, man moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world.
Air pollution is still the most serious. It’s bad for all living things in the world, but it is not the only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us angry more easily.
Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from putting dirty smoke into the air. Pollution by SO2 is now the most dangerous kind of air pollution. It is caused by heavy traffic. We are sure that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution.
The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must take care of the rise in pollution at the same time.
1. What is the reason for the world to become much smaller?| A．The rise in pollution. | B．Science and technology development. |
| C．The earth is being polluted day and night. | D．The earth is blown away by the wind every year. |
| A．Air pollution. | B．Rubbish pollution. |
| C．Noise pollution. | D．Water pollution. |
| A．It makes much noise. | B．It makes us angry more easily. |
| C．It makes our rivers and lakes dirty. | D．It’s bad for all living things in the world. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Critical. | C．Doubtful. | D．Indifferent. |
10 . Having been born along the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, Rahmina Paulette said she has witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change leading to great difficulties like drought and floods.
The 15-year-old Kenyan teenager said East Africa is highly dependent on Lake Victoria, but high pollution has led to poisoning of the water, soil erosion and health problems in people living around the lake.
As Paulette grew older, she realized she was slowly turning from being a witness to a victim of lake degradation. So, she decided to take action and save the lake in her own little way.
“Being an Indigenous person from Lake Victoria, I would like to help restore the ecosystem for my community that has an ancestral connection to the lake and also for the future generations to enjoy the cool breeze, good smells and see the biodiversity within Lake Victoria,” Paulette said.
In her efforts to end pollution in the lake, Paulette started an environmental organization called Kisumu Environmental Champions.
The young environmental champions carry out their activities during the weekends, and the group focuses on environmental conservation, climate change awareness and wildlife conservation.
The group, with about 200 members so far, has taken up the removal of the invasive plant hyacinth from the lake to make eco-friendly products. This project has earned Paulette international recognition. The group has made furniture, paper, cards, folders, document holders, bags and carton boxes from the water hyacinth.
With help from her mother, Paulette is trying to increase activities as she urges all Kenyans to incorporate eco-friendly ways in their day-to-day lives.
Apart from activists like Paulette, other organizations are casting the net wider in their attempt to save the lake. One such group is nonprofit Osienala in western Kenya. The organization has been cooperating with international partners such as those from China to save Lake Victoria.
1. What causes the problems of Lake Victoria?| A．Soil erosion. | B．Drought and flood. |
| C．Poisoning water. | D．Climate change and pollution. |
| A．Disappearance. | B．Expansion. | C．Damage. | D．Restoration. |
| A．By planting more hyacinths. | B．By removing the hyacinths with her mother. |
| C．By building a factory to make products. | D．By setting up an organization. |
| A．It casts some nets over the lake. | B．It makes money while protecting the lake. |
| C．It seeks foreign cooperation to save the lake. | D．It’s another organization founded by Paulette. |
