1 . The next generation of robots will be able to see objects, will have a sense of touch, and will make critical decisions.
Engineering skilled and computer technology are developing artificial vision for robots. With the ability to “see”, robots can identify and inspect one specific class of objects out of a pile of different kinds of materials. One robot vision system uses of electronic digital cameras containing many rows of lights sensitive materials measure the intensity of light and convert the light rays into a range of numbers. The numbers are part of a gray-scale system in which brightness is measured in a range of values. One scale ranges from 0 to 15, and another from 0 to 255. The 0 is represented by black. The highest number is white. The numbers in between represent different shades of gray. The computer then makes the calculations and converts the numbers into a picture that shows an image of the object in question. It is not yet known whether robots will one day have vision as good as human vision. Technicians believe they will, but only after years of development.
Engineers working on other advances are designing and experimenting with new types of articulated (有关节的) metal hands and fingers, giving robots a sense of touch. Other engineers are writing new programs allowing robots to make decisions such as whether to abandon defective parts in finished products. To do this, the robot will also have to be capable of identifying those perfect and defective parts.
These future robots, assembled (装配，组合) with a sense of touch and the ability to see and make decisions, will have plenty of work to do. They can be used to prospect for minerals on the ocean floor or in deep areas of mines too dangerous for humans to enter.
They will work as gas station attendants, firefighters, house-keepers, and security personnel. The robot business will continue to grow also. Financial analysts believe this business will soar from a $ 100 million-industry at the start of the 1980s to a $5-billion industry by the early 2010s. Anyone wanting to understand the industry of the future will have to know about robots.
1. Why is it so important for robots to be able to “see”?| A．Because they can criticize human factory personnel. |
| B．Because they can make critical decisions. |
| C．Because they can work as human beings. |
| D．Because they have a strong desire. |
| A．Because robot-business will grow rapidly. |
| B．Because robots will be very useful. |
| C．Because robots will become very popular in industry. |
| D．For they can make a lot of money. |
| A．Having a noticeable or desire effect. |
| B．Unquestionable and undoubted. |
| C．Imperfect, having serious errors. |
| D．Not enough in quantity. |
| A．Future Robots Will Have Plenty of Work to Do. |
| B．Future Robots Will See, Touch, and Think. |
| C．Engineers Care Designing New Types of Robots. |
| D．Future Robots Will Have Visions as Good Human Vision. |
How is everything going? I have been in Leeds for more than 3 months. I miss you all so much during this time, especially at this turning of the year. I still remember the Christmas and New Year party we had together last year. It is a pity that I cannot celebrate this great festival with you this year, but I hope I can share my happiness with you through this letter.
After I entered in the British University, I realized that the foundation course I have taken is extremely important and helpful. Actually, most of the content of my present module has already been covered by IFY. Therefore, it is not difficult to follow the lectures and tutorials. Compared to the other Chinese students who took the foundation course in Britain, we are in a better stage in terms of both academic English and the knowledge of re levant subjects. More importantly, the IFY course has fully prepared us for the new style of study here. I would like to thank Juliet, Paul, Net, Scott and Chris with all my heart, because without your help, I wouldn’t be able to cope with the study in Britain.
I would also like to thank Cynthia, Sophia, Cathy and all the other staff in Qingdao ACE Programme. Thanks for your help in the last year, and thanks for your advice on my choice of university. It is you who make studying abroad possible for me.
The last one year’s study in IFY course was one of my most pleasant memories. While coping with the challenges of life in Britain, I always think back to the time when I was with you. I cannot forget every lectures and tutorials, and I cannot forget the times that we played together. You are not only my teachers, but also my good friends . I will miss you all. Hope I can see you when I go back to Chin a in summer.
Wish you every success in your life and keep good mood every day!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Phoebe
1. This letter was written by ________.| A．a Chinese student now in China |
| B．a Chinese student now in Britain |
| C．a Britain student now in China |
| D．a Britain student in Britain |
| A．a course opened in British universities |
| B．a course opened only in summer |
| C．a foundation course taken before going to British universities |
| D．a foundation course taken while in British universities |
| A．start with | B．deal with | C．go on with | D．go with |
| A．happy | B．thankful | C．sorry | D．respectful |
3 . Dog walkers should show consideration, not just for the dog in their home or car, but also for their environment. Doing so will help keep the local area clean and pleasant, especially for people out walking their dog or taking children to the park.
A considerate dog walker will take steps to prevent their pets from producing waste wherever they want to. Dog waste is particularly unpleasant and should be avoided at all costs. Not only is it nasty to walk in a dirty area, but it is also a serious health risk. Dog fouling ( 污垢) is a criminal offence in the UK and carries a maximum fined ￡1,000 if the case goes to court (法庭). Dog walkers should always be prepared to pick up after their dog by carrying dog waste bags or even plastic carrier bags that can be used. Do not run the risk of allowing your dog to make a public area dirty by always having a steady supply of bags with you during dog walks. Carrying a single bag during a walk is not always enough, as some dogs will need to go twice or perhaps even three times during walks.
Some dog owners are not willing to admit that their pets is a challenge or troublesome. Rather than dislike the suggestions that dogs should be kept under control, you should see it as your duty to protect other dogs, children and anyone else from harm. Do know troublesome behaviors such as aggression (攻击) towards other dogs or children and make every effort to keep your dog under control. Avoid areas where you know other dogs or children will be. They can do this by showing respect for other people’s property, picking up after their dog and by keeping challenging dogs under control.
1. The writer advises dog walkers to show consideration mainly for having_____.| A．a clean car | B．a comfortable home |
| C．a good environment | D．a very pleasant park |
| A．Highly unpleasant or annoying. | B．Very boring and tiring. |
| C．Specially disappointing | D．Surprising or astonishing. |
| A．fined more than ￡1,000 | B．ordered to pick it up at once |
| C．ordered to give one one waste bag | D．considered to break the law. |
| A．To keep their dogs under control. | B．To try to make their dogs keep clean. |
| C．To stop their dogs from being harmed. | D．To respect other people’s property. |
4 . University degrees represent a significant financial investment. So, from the very beginning we encourage you to take a long-term review and to think about what you want to do after you graduate. That way, you can construct the most appropriate combination of courses in order to acquire the required knowledge and skills.
Over 70% of our graduate students attain a graduate level position six months after graduating.
What guidance will I receive?
Together with Career Services, we will help you
● find out about the career opportunities available
● choose the most suitable options for you
● make effective job applications
● plan and manage your future career.
What skills will I learn ?
Employers will be looking for highly skilled recruits. A language study course does not just teach you facts, but also a range of skills, for example:
● the practical skills of carefully listening to and transcribing(转录) languages
● the analytical skills of describing and comparing languages or styles of languages
● the intellectual skills of examining and evaluating theories
● various changing skills
Our graduates are well prepared for careers which use these skills and others based on them, such as problem-solving, critical evaluation of evidence, attention to detail.
Lancaster Award
Achieve the Landscape Award, a certificate developed in partnership with employers to help you make the most of your time at Lancaster and to demonstrate the skills you have developed along the way. The Lancaster Award will help you stand out from the crowd and improve your future employment prospects.
What do students go on to do with a degree from our department?
Here are some typical areas that will be of interest to you once you’ve taken a degree from our department:
● Education: teaching in schools, colleges and universities in Britain, and teaching English as a foreign language abroad
● Journalism and media, public relations
● Publishing
● Management
● Higher degrees and research
1. What is the purpose of the Careers Service?| A．To introduce their career courses and level positions. |
| B．To present a significant financial investment |
| C．To help graduates plan and manage future career. |
| D．To make readers interested in their career service |
| A．It will make the graduate earn more money later. |
| B．It will help the graduates have a brighter future in career. |
| C．It will show the graduate’s communicative skills. |
| D．It will keep your work going more easily. |
| A．High income and management. |
| B．Education and employment prospects. |
| C．Future employment prospects. |
| D．Higher degrees and research. |
5 . For better eyesight (视力), doctors advise limiting (限制) the hours of screen time and encourage having enough eye resting time.
However, another study shows that sitting in front of computer or TV screens for long hours is not the only reason for myopia (近视). An Australian research team studied young children in Sydney and Singapore to find the reasons for myopia. The research team found that there were less children who had myopia in Sydney than those in Singapore, even though they spent more time in front of computer and TV screens. The major finding is that children in Sydney spend longer hours on outdoor sports than those in Singapore.
Indoor and outdoor sports both make the eyes pay attention to more distant (远处的) objects, which stops the eyes from changing original shape. But outdoor sports may be better than indoor sports for myopia. Because natural light is good for eye growth and vitamin (维他命) D from the sunlight might be useful to it. Many doctors suggest that every child get its first eye test when he/she is about two and half years old, and even if his/her sight seems good enough. It is necessary for myopic(近视的) children to wear glasses to stop headaches, trouble reading and so on. It is also important that schools invite doctors to test their students’ eyes.
If that is not possible, school teachers should at least encourage parents and children to have regular eye examination and wear glasses. And parents should remember not only to limit the total screen time for their children, but also to encourage them to spend time outdoors.
1. What did the Australian research team study for?| A．To find the reasons for myopia. |
| B．To find the ways to treat myopia. |
| C．To learn to choose right glasses. |
| D．To improve children’s eyesight. |
| A．Because the children in Sydney watch TV less. |
| B．Because the children in Sydney have more eye resting time. |
| C．Because the children in Sydney use computer less. |
| D．Because the children in Sydney do more outdoor sports. |
| A．Sydney children don’t study hard. |
| B．Singapore children do few exercise. |
| C．Room light does harm to children’s eyes. |
| D．Outdoors activities do more good to eyes. |
| A．Children should have eye tests as soon as they reach school age. |
| B．Looking more at distant objects can help the eyes keep their original shape. |
| C．Doing outdoor sports with no glasses is good for myopic children. |
| D．Children should limit their time in the sun to protect their eyes. |
6 . We are spending too much time on social media today. So what if you make a habit of spending no more than ten minutes a day?
•
Don’t waste your efforts by being on every platform (平台). Instead, choose only one platform to start. Make sure that you enjoy it.
•Choose the right time.
Find your best time to use social media.
•Engage (参与).
Be wise in deciding what you want to talk about.
| A．Make it easy. |
| B．Only use one platform. |
| C．Be sure not to give away your personal information. |
| D．Your topic should help you express your point of view. |
| E．Actually, you can achieve a lot of things within ten minutes. |
| F．There’s no sense picking YouTube if you hate creating videos. |
| G．Habits are easier to form when they take place at the same time every day. |
7 . One day, a woman walked into a pet store to buy a bird for her Thanksgiving Day party. The guy said, “We only have one parrot. But I think you do not want it because it can talk…” The woman said happily, “That’s great. I’ve always wanted a talking bird.” So the guy said, “Since you are a nice lady, I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
And the lady went home and put the bird on her bed and walked out of the room. But as soon as she walked into the kitchen, the bird started to speak dirty words as loud as it could. The woman walked back into the room thinking, “I can’t have this at my party!” So she took the bird and put it in the fridge. A few hours later, while the woman was eating, she remembered that her bird was still in the fridge. Quickly, she opened the door and found it was shivering. Then she took out the bird at once. She said to the bird, “I’ll keep you out of there if you don’t use that language again. Do you agree with me?”
The bird nodded and asked, “Can I just ask a quick question?” The lady nodded and said, “Yes, you may.” The bird pointed at the turkey behind him and asked, “What did he do?”
1. The woman went into the pet store because ________.| A．there were lots of nice birds in it |
| B．she wanted to buy a bird to make a big meal |
| C．she wanted to buy a bird for Thanksgiving Day party |
| D．she wanted to buy a bird for his son’s birthday |
| A．发抖 | B．睡觉 | C．生气 | D．跳动 |
| A．how the turkey was put into the fridge. | B．why itself was in the fridge. |
| C．who could be in the fridge. | D．why the turkey was in the fridge. |
| A．she wanted to cook it on Thanksgiving Day | B．the bird spoke dirty words |
| C．the bird liked living in the cold place | D．she thought it’s the best place for it to live in |
8 . China has a lot to offer. Do you want to take a China tour? Here are some of our best sellers.
Tour 1 Wonders of China ( Price: $2,699 )
Beijing—Xi’an—Guilin—Yangshuo—Yangtze River—Shanghai
Suitable for those who love splendid Chinese culture, unique natural scenery and more leisure holiday. Visit Forbidden City, walk up to Great Wall, see amazing Terracotta Warriors, take cruise along Yangtze River and ride bikes along Yangshuo country.
Tour 2 Water Town and Yellow Mountains Tour ( Price: $1,409 )
Shanghai—Suzhou—Huangshan—Hangzhou—Shanghai
Suitable for those who like interesting water town traditions and amazing scenery. See gorgeous Yellow Mountains scenery and the prosperous Shanghai, visit a famous water town - Tongli, explore the classical beauty of Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Tour 3 Authentic Yunnan Discovery ( Price: $1,629 )
Kunming—Dali—Lijiang—Shangri-La
Suitable for those who are interested in minority (少数民族) culture and snow mountain. The Stone Forest, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge show you the creativity of the nature and the Lijiang Ancient Townand Shangri-La show you the colorful culture of the minorities there.
Tour 4 Golden Silk Road ( Price: $1,749 )
Xi’an—Dunhuang—Turpan—Urumqi
Suitable for those who are eager to uncover the secret of the Silk Road. Listen to the stories about the ancient Silk Road and see the relics on the channel which connected the eastern and western world.
Tour 5 In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour ( Price:$1,509 )
Shanghai—Xi’an—Luoyang—Dengfeng—Beijing
Suitable for Kungfu fans who want to learn Kungfu in Shaolin Temple. Lighten your trip by learning the most authentic Chinese Kungfu at Shaolin Temple, and the Longmen Grottoesc石窟) in Luoyang help you understand the spirit of Kungfu.
1. If the tourists want to explore the beauty of the snow mountain, they would probably choose ________.| A．In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour | B．Golden Silk Road |
| C．Authentic Yunnan Discovery | D．Wonders of China |
| A．Tongli is famous for the interesting water town traditions. |
| B．Beijing and Shanghai are the two common cities in Tour 1 and Tour 2. |
| C．Tourists can experience the culture of the minorities on the Silk Road. |
| D．Kungfu fans can learn Kungfu in the Longmen Grottoes. |
| A．show visitors the importance of some cities |
| B．supply visitors with the information of some China tours |
| C．offer visitors some trip tips |
| D．tell visitors the splendid Chinese culture |
9 . Scotland is a country in Great Britain, to the north of England. Scotland has nearly 800 islands, but people only live on some of them. About five million people live in Scotland, which is 8.5% of the UK population. Most people live in the south of the country, in and around the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.
Language
In Scotland, most people speak English and Scots and a minority speak Scottish Gaelic, an old Celtic language which is very different from English. Scots is spoken by young and old people and sometimes people mix Scots and English. Some words in Scots are the same as in English and some are different.
Sport
The most popular sport in Scotland is football and famous teams include Celtic and Rangers, from Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city. Another popular game, golf, was invented in Scotland in the Middle Ages. You can go skiing in winter at Scotland’s five mountain ski fields and any time of the year at snow sports centers around the country.
Food
When people think of Scottish food, they often think of haggis, a type of sausage made from parts of a sheep. However, Scotland is also known for its variety of seafood and beef.
Symbols
Blue is a colour which is often connected with Scotland. The Scottish flag is blue with a white X-shaped cross called the Saint Andrew’s cross. St Andrew is the Patron Saint(守护神) of Scotland. Everywhere you go in Scotland, you will see tartan(苏格兰格子呢), kilts and bagpipes. Also, look out for the national animal, the unicorn, and the thistle, the national flower of Scotland.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The Scottish live separately on 800 islands. |
| B．Most of the Scottish live in big cities. |
| C．8.5% of the UK population live in Scotland. |
| D．Scotland lies to the north of Great Britain. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Scotland is the birthplace of golf. |
| B．Celtic and Rangers are famous golf clubs. |
| C．The special Scottish food is its seafood. |
| D．The Scottish flag is white with a blue cross. |
10 . When I was young, I lived on an island in the north of Scotland, but I went to school in Edinburgh. It was a music school, and I studied the violin. We practiced for six hours every day. Our school was a boarding school. At the end of the term, we all packed our bags and our instruments to go home for the holidays. Most kids went by train, or bus, or their parents took them home by car. Not me! I went home by ferry (渡船) — 14 hours overnight on the open sea. I loved it!
One summer I packed my suitcase and violin and said goodbye to my friends. I took the train to the ferry station and then got on the ferry. When we started moving away, I remembered a terrible thing! I left my violin on the train! I went to ask one of the crew (船员) what to do, but he said he couldn’t stop the ferry for me.
What should I do? What would my dad say? He’d be really angry! I was worried, and didn’t sleep all night. The next morning I got off the ferry to meet my dad. I didn’t want to look at him. I told him what happened. He laughed. I looked at him and couldn’t believe it. Why was he laughing?
In my violin case, I always have a label with my address and a telephone number. My dad told me, “A cleaner found your violin by the label on the train in London and took it to the police. They called me. They put the violin on a plane and it arrived an hour before you did.” My dad had it in his car! Thanks to those people, my violin was safe home!
1. Where was the writer’s home?| A．On an island. | B．In London. |
| C．In Edinburgh. | D．In the south of Scotland. |
| A．He didn’t sleep all night. | B．He went back home alone. |
| C．His dad would be angry. | D．He left his address on the train. |
| A．模型 | B．标签 | C．绰号 | D．唱片公司 |
| A．His father. | B．The police. | C．A cleaner. | D．A crewman. |
| A．Travelling Violin | B．Boarding School |
| C．Unforgettable Train | D．Missing Suitcase |
