1 . Until now, dressing robots, designed to help an elderly person or a person with a disability get dressed, have been created in the laboratory as a one-armed machine, but research has shown that this can be uncomfortable for the person in care.
To solve this problem, Dr Jihong Zhu, a robotics researcher at the University of York’s Institute, proposed a two-armed assistive dressing plan, which has been inspired by caregivers who have demonstrated that specific actions are required to reduce discomfort to the individual in their care.
Dr Zhu gathered important information on how care workers moved during a dressing exercise, through allowing a robot to observe and learn from human movements and then, through AI, generate a model that mimics (模仿) how human helpers do their task. This allowed the researchers to gather enough data to illustrate that two hands were needed for dressing and not one, as well as information on the angles that the arms make.
Dr Zhu said, “We know that practical tasks, such as getting dressed, can be done by a robot, freeing up a care worker to concentrate more on providing companionship and observing the general well-being of the individual in their care. It has been tested in the laboratory, but for this to work outside of the lab, we really need to understand how care workers do this task in real life.”
“We’ve adopted a method called learning from demonstration, which means that you don’t need an expert to programme a robot; a human just needs to demonstrate the motion that is required of the robot and the robot learns that action. It is clear that for care workers two arms are needed to properly attend to the needs of individuals,” Dr. Zhu said. “With the current one-armed machine scheme a patient is required to do too much work in order for a robot to assist them, moving their arm up in the air or bending it in ways that they might not be able to do.”
1. What’s the problem with the one-armed dressing robot?A.It causes discomfort. | B.It moves too slowly. |
C.It has an ugly appearance. | D.It lacks flexibility. |
A.some books | B.AI models in the market |
C.a dressing exercise | D.the healthcare providers |
A.To give better demonstrations. |
B.To allow caregivers more time to do other things. |
C.To make it a better companion for the needy. |
D.To improve the well-being of the care workers. |
A.Taking Care with Caregiving Robots |
B.Robot Could Help People Get Dressed |
C.Caregiving Robots: the Future of Health Care |
D.University Scientists Create Two-Armed Caregiving Robot |
2 . Leading museums in the United States are covering up or closing displays featuring Native American cultural objects owing to new federal rules. The new regulations require museums to obtain “free, prior and informed permission” from tribal leaders before displaying ancestral heritage items.
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the largest natural history museum in the world, announced on Jan 26 that it would close two halls spanning 10,000 square feet with Native American exhibits, as the exhibits are “severely outdated”. “The halls we are closing contain artifacts (历史文物) of an era when museums such as ours did not respect the values, perspectives and indeed shared humanity of Native Americans,” museum President Sean Decatur said in a letter to the staff, The New York Times reported. “The number of cultural objects on display in these halls is significant, and because these exhibits are also severely outdated, we have decided that rather than just covering or removing specific items, we will close the halls,” Decatur said. The move comes because of the implementation (执行) in early January of update d regulations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Over the next five years, museums, universities, art institutions and similar places are required to undertake essential updates to prepare all human remains and related funerary (葬礼的) objects for repatriation (遣送), making sure that tribes have more power and increased authority throughout the process. “The ultimate goal of the law is not to cover up exhibitions. It’s not to prevent appropriate education about diverse native cultures. It’s about repairing and repatriating items that have been stolen over the last couple of centuries and returning them to the rightful people,” Shannon O’Loughlin, the CEO of the Association on American Indian Affairs said.
Chicago’s Field Museum earlier this month also closed several displays featuring Native American cultural items. The Field Museum has one of the biggest collections of Native American remains in the country and opened a new permanent exhibition in the spring of 2022 that displaced the museum’s longstanding Native American exhibition since the 1950s.
Harvard University, which has more than 5,000 Native American human remains, has said it will remove all Native American funerary items from its exhibits. “Exhibitions have always been discussed during tribal discussions and cultural items have been removed from display at the tribal request. With the new NAGPRA regulations, the museum is in the process of removing all the funerary belongings and likely funerary belongings off display,” Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, said in a statement.
1. Which has the same meaning as the underlined word “perspectives” in Paragraph 2?A.Occupations. | B.Faults. | C.Challenges. | D.Viewpoints. |
A.It opened a new permanent exhibition. |
B.It collected some Native American belongings. |
C.It handed funerary objects to American Indians. |
D.It set about displaying Native American cultural objects. |
A.By selling them to other people. | B.By putting them in some labs. |
C.By taking them away from its exhibits. | D.By covering them with pieces of cloth. |
A.US New NAGPRA regulations scheduled to be in effect |
B.US museums stop displaying Native American exhibits |
C.US museums feature Native American cultural items |
D.US museums prefer ancestral heritage items |
3 . Leif Richardson, who is a conservation biologist, and I are out with the goal of piecing together a picture of where wild bees live, and which species are in trouble in the home range of a native bee called Crotch’s bumble bee (大黄蜂). That bee is protected by the state law, and it’s one of the many species under survey.
Our journey began at the foot of a mountain in Leo Carrillo State Park. It was a cloudy morning. We set off for a short hike, armed with bee nets and a cooler to cool any bees we would catch. It’s a harmless way to temporarily calm the bees, and to allow for more careful study and photos.
Just a minute later, as Richardson walked into a meadow (草地), I heard him scream, followed by a snake! He stood there frozen for a moment before backing away towards the path, and then the snake went away.
We were a little more careful with the possibilities then, as we prepared to catch our first bees. They were not hard to find—I could hear them buzzing everywhere, and soon Richardson said it was time for me to catch one.
He told me to pinch (捏住) the tip of my net and held it upright, while slowly lowering it over a flower where our bumble bee was standing. As soon as the bee realized what was going on, it buzzed furiously inside my net, and then slowly climbed up the net towards the tip right where my finger was.
It all seemed like a high possibility to get stung (被蜇). But Richardson assured me I would be fine. He had some advice for holding it. “You’re going to pinch harder than you think you need to, but not so hard that you hurt the bee.” As my fingertips got closer to the bee, it felt like I could hear it buzzing louder and louder. Richardson performed this whole process in seconds. For me, on the other hand, it was a nervous act of much concentration. But it paid off—and soon, I got my very first bee!
1. What did Richardson come across on the way?A.A sudden rain. | B.A snake. | C.A bee net. | D.A cooler. |
A.The process of bee-catching. | B.The present situation of bumble bees. |
C.The challenge of finding a bumble bee. | D.The purpose of studying bumble bees. |
A.He failed. | B.He got stung. | C.He was nervous. | D.He was professional. |
A.A Love of Nature | B.A New Law for Bumble Bee |
C.An Outing for Bumble Bee | D.A Trip to Leo Carrillo State Park |
4 . A Japanese candy company has been making national news headlines for its idea to produce gummy candy (软糖) that tastes like an “imaginary fruit” called Kiraspika.
Last year was a great one for gummy candy producers, and the market continued to expand throughout 2023, with fruit-flavored (水果味的) gummies being the most popular. There are plenty of fruit flavors to choose from, but companies are still limited to the fruits that can be found in our world. However, what if someone started making candy that tastes like imaginary fruits? That was the strange idea that a Japanese sweets maker recently came up with. Two months ago, the company created a new type of gummy candy that tastes like fruit “Kiraspika no Mi”, an imaginary fruit with an original flavor, design, and even a story.
According to the story, the star-shaped Kiraspika only grows in the mountainous area of Blue Knife, where temperatures drop to —50℃ in winter. It is very difficult to get. Everything about Kiraspika was invented in the fruit lab where its flavor experts mixed various existing flavors to create a totally original one that tastes like nothing you’ve ever eaten.
According to its designers, the Kiraspika-flavored gummy candy has a unique sweetness mixed with a kind of sourness (酸味), but many of those who have tried it have their own description of the taste.
To some, the Kiraspika flavor can be compared to that of an energy drink, while others say it tastes a bit like a spicy apple. It is the mystery of the flavor and the personal explanations that make this product liked by many people.
1. What does the underlined word “expand” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Disappear. | B.Shorten. | C.Struggle. | D.Grow. |
A.It can’t be found in real life. | B.It grows on the plain. |
C.It can be planted easily. | D.It needs high temperatures. |
A.Its shape. | B.Its taste. | C.Its origin. | D.Its designer. |
A.A news report. | B.A health magazine. |
C.A biology book. | D.An old story. |
5 . Four Must-Read Environmental Books
Our recommended list of environmental books covers a broad range of topics. The four must-read environmental books are sure to attract the greenest bookworms.
Braiding Sweetgrass
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmer looks at the relationship between humans and the land. Kimmer ties lessons she learned to Western society’s view of plants and aims to tell the importance of plants and animals. The book also explores the lessons we may learn from plants and animals and how they relate to certain stories. Braiding Sweetgrass won the 2014 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award.
The End of Nature
The End of Nature was published in 1989. Its author, Bill Mckibben, describes the relationship between nature and humans. It expresses the thought that nature was previously independent of humans but now has been affected by them in every way. The book tells the ideas of nature and the value it has lost.
Silent Spring
Written by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring has been described as a landmark work of environmental writing and is praised for bringing the environment al movement into the public’s focus. The book stresses the effects of pesticides (杀虫剂) on the environment. The book eventually led to a change in the pesticide law of the US.
The Sixth Extinction
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert describes previous mass extinction events and connects them to many extinctions presently taking place. Kolbert studies the relationships humans have with the environment and finds that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction caused by humans. The Sixth Extinction won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction.
1. Whose book focuses on nature’s lost value due to human activities?A.Robin Wall Kimmer’s. | B.Rachel Carson’s. |
C.Bill Mckibben’s. | D.Elizabeth Kolbert’s. |
A.It has reduced the use of land. | B.It has affected a law in the US. |
C.It has changed people’s view of plants. | D.It has prevented nature from being independent. |
A.They won a prize. |
B.They focus on the lessons we learn. |
C.They are about mass extinction events. |
D.They view nature to be independent of humans. |
6 . Floating Markets in Bangkok, Thailand
One might feel as though they are entering a different world upon visiting a Thai floating market. While some countries in Asia have their own floating markets, none compare to Thailand’s, and the special experience is one you cannot miss while visiting the country.
Long-tail boats, ancient and traditional houses, and shouting vendors (商贩) are the major elements of floating markets in Bangkok. They are excellent options for experiencing the unusual culture and life of Thailand. Here are the top 8 floating markets in Bangkok, where you can experience the chaotic and charming atmosphere.
Name | Distance from Downtown Bangkok | Open Times | Features |
Damnoen Saduak | 80 km (50 mi) | Every day from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m | Long-tail boat cruises, remote villages, plantations |
Amphawa | 90 km (55mi) | 11 a. m. to 9.30 p. m., Friday to Sunday | Thai food, little wooden houses, temples |
Wat Sai | 23 km (14 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday | A mixture of Chinese culture and Thai culture |
Taling Chan | 12 km (7 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Temples, massages (按摩) on boats, foot massages under trees |
Bangkhla | 100km (60 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Remote countryside, charm, biking |
Bang Nam Pheung | 20 km (12 mi) | 8: 30 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Fruit, food, a nature sanctuary (避难所) |
Bang Phli | 38 km (24 mi) | 11 a. m.— 5:30 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday | Oldest, historical buildings, temples |
Khlong Lat Mayom | 21 km (13 mi) | 7 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday — Sunday | Food, fruit, boat noodles |
1. Which floating market only opens on weekends with the shortest opening hours?
A.Taling Chan. | B.Bang Phli. |
C.Bang Nam Pheung. | D.Khlong Lat Mayom. |
A.Delicious Thai food. | B.Numerous temple buildings. |
C.Various massage services. | D.The traditional countryside life. |
A.It is influenced by Chinese cultural elements. |
B.Its number of open days in a week is the largest. |
C.It is the centre of cultural exchange around the world. |
D.It is a must-see tourist destination for Chinese tourists. |
7 . If something’s standing in your way to greatness, these top books on motivation can help you overcome roadblocks so you can realize your dreams. Here’s a look at some of the best books on motivation.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ... and It’s All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson
Learn how to turn problems into opportunities and stay calm in stressful situations with this handy guide focused on helping readers find happiness and peace of mind. Discover how to master your thoughts and fully live in the moment to appreciate what you have and get the most out of life.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Highlighting the habits that distinguish those people who deal particularly well with the world from everyone else, this popular motivation book explains how you can become a better person by adopting the attitude of the highly effective and aligning (使……一致) your life with universal principles.
How to Win Friends &Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A favorite presenting basic rules for how to make a good first impression and effortlessly win people over, this bestselling motivational book offers timeless advice backed by engaging anecdotes (轶事). Carnegie explains the easy techniques to help anyone become more popular and persuasive, and he shares simple guidelines to instantly make yourself more likable.
Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg
Being productive isn’t just about managing your to-do list; it’s also about making the right choices and maintaining the proper mindset. Staying motivated means sticking to your goals even when the world throws a challenge of bother at you. And by adopting a few easy methods to stay on track, nothing will stand between you and your dreams.
1. If you want to be popular, which book may you read?A.Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff... and It’s All Small Stuff. |
B.The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. |
C.How to Win Friends & Influence People. |
D.Smarter Faster Better. |
A.Richard Carlson. | B.Stephen R. Covey. |
C.Dale Carnegie. | D.Charles Duhigg. |
A.It motivates you to achieve your dreams. | B.It emphasizes the importance of willpower. |
C.It teaches you how to keep a peaceful mind. | D.It tells about specific basic rules for success. |
8 . International Day of Education
24 January
Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed (宣布) 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Today, 250 million children and youth are out of school, and 763 million adults are illiterate (文盲的). Their right to education is being violated (侵犯) and it is unacceptable. It’s time to transform education.
International Day of Clean Energy
26 January
The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition (过渡) to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. 26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions.
World Health Day
7 April
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.
The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right”, which was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions.
World Environment Day
5 June
World Environment Day, held annually on 5 June, brings together millions of people from across the globe, engaging them in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world. The event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since its start in 1973.
1. On what day is the event about world energy marked?A.24 January. | B.26 January. | C.7 April. | D.5 June. |
A.International Day of Education. |
B.International Day of Clean Energy. |
C.World Health Day. |
D.World Environment Day. |
A.They have a common goal. | B.They have a long history. |
C.They’re international events. | D.They benefit world environment. |
9 . Top 3 Best Museums in the World
Whether you are a fine art or historylover, the following three museums are sure to take your breath away.
Le Louvre, Paris, France
A visit to the Louvre and its collections lets visitors discover Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 as well as a large number of ancient civilizations. The grand palace that houses the museum. which dates back to the late twelfth century, is a true lesson in architecture: from 1200 to 2011, the most innovative architects have in turn built and developed the Louvre.
●Official website: Louvre
●Highlight: Leonardo da Vinci`s “Mona Lisa.”
The British Museum, London, UK
The British Museum in London was founded in 1753 and opened its doors six years later. It was the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge, open to visitors from across the world. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and breadth, beauty and significance.
●Official website: British Museum
●Highlight: the Rosetta Stone.
The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
The second-largest art museum in the world, the State Hermitage Museum was founded in 1764(200 years later than The Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy), when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of works from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. Today, the collection of art works contains paintings, sculptures and so on.
●Official website: State Hermitage Museum
●Highlight: Golden masterpieces from Eurasia.
1. When was the British Museum, London, UK opened to the public?A.1564. | B.1753. | C.1759. | D.1848. |
A.They have exhibits from the Middle Ages. | B.They feature exhibits from ancient times. |
C.They have exhibits concerned with kings. | D.They have both fine art and history exhibits. |
A.Le Louvre, Paris, France. | B.The State Hermitage Museum, Russia. |
C.The British Museum, London, UK. | D.The Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy. |
10 . Four Best Classic Books for You to Read
If you’ve always wanted to tackle the classics but never known where to begin, we’ve got you covered. We’ve selected four best classic books for you to read.
The Man Who Would Be King by Rudyard Kipling
This short novel tells the story of two British men visiting India under Britain’s control. The men trick their way to a remote region where one of them comes to be respected as King. A tale warning against letting things go to your head, this funny story has been made into a classic film starring Michael Caine and Sean Connery.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Born in the first hour of India’s independence, Saleem Sinai is gifted with the power of an extraordinary sense of smell. He soon discovers that there are 1, 001 others with similar abilities, who can help him build a new India. The winner of the Booker prize in 1981, Salman Rushdie’s groundbreaking novel is a great achievement of magical realism. This great success was followed by his another novel Shame (1983).
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
If you’re not familiar with Dickens, his evergreen Christmastime classic is the perfect introduction. It’s a slim 104-page book — a true Christmas surprise from an author with a tendency towards the tome (大部头书) like his Great Expectations, which is another classic! It’s the perfect book for you to read in winter just when you want to feel that warm holiday atmosphere.
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Meet John Singer, a deaf and mute (哑的) man who sits in the same café every day. Here, in the deep American South of the 1930s, John meets various kinds of people and acts as the silent and kind keeper of their stories — right up until an unforgettable ending that will blow you away. It’s hard to believe McCullers was only 23 when she wrote this classic.
1. Which book won a prize in 1981?A.Shame. | B.Midnight’s Children. |
C.The Man Who Would Be King. | D.The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. |
A.It’s more popular. | B.It’s Dickens’ first tome. |
C.It’s shorter in length. | D.It’s written in Indian. |
A.Work as a waiter. | B.Help the disabled. |
C.Read stories to others. | D.Observe different people. |