1 . For most of the traditional restaurants, it is challenging to deal with the increasing number of customers. But for Li Xianghui’s restaurants, things are different. Owning four restaurants, Li bought a number of cooking machines, which can operate tirelessly day and night. Packed in kits, all dishes are semi-finished(半加工的) and can be served within minutes after they are put into the machines.

“Automation (自动化) is the future for the restaurant business. It can avoid pressure from human costs in running a traditional restaurant and increase efficiency,” Li says. “There is a standardized process(过程) by the machines, which can make sure of the same taste of each order.”

The cooking machine can make about 2,000 recipes(食谱), according to Li. Once seated, customers scan a QR code(二维码) and use an app to make their meal selection and pay. With the only waiter putting the semi-finished food kit into the machine, the meal will be served in minutes. What’s more, the robot “cook” has attracted an increasing number of customers since the restaurant’s opening. Many customers say the taste is good and the price is not expensive.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have trained their robot “cook” to make a judgement about the saltiness of a dish at different stages of the chewing (咀嚼) process, like a similar process in humans, according to their research published in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI.

Their results could be useful in the development of automated or semi-automated food preparation by helping robots to learn what tastes good and what doesn’t, making them better “cooks”. “If robots are to be used for certain aspects of food preparation, it’s important that they are able to ‘taste’ what they’re cooking,” said Grzegorz Sochacki, the paper’s first author.

1. Why does Li say “Automation is the future for the restaurant business”?

A．Food can be cooked in some simpler way by the machines.

B．Customers prefer to have a quicker meal in the restaurant.

C．The tastes of dishes are better when cooked by the machines.

D．The costs of running a restaurant are less when using machines.

2. How many waiters are needed in a restaurant of Li?

A．0.

B．1.

C．2.

D．4.

3. Why has the restaurant attracted many customers since its opening?

A．It becomes popular on the Internet soon.

B．People want to see the robot “cook” there.

C．People are satisfied with the taste and price there.

D．It allows customers to use an app to make orders.

4. What’s the purpose of the research published in Frontiers in Robotics and AI?

A．To improve robots’ cooking skills.	B．To explore other uses of robots in kitchen.
C．To prove robots’ ability to make recipes.	D．To train robots to learn how to chew.

3 . This is the time of year when many gardeners are harvesting tomatoes. Gardening expert Jessica Damiano recently reported about the many pictures of strangely shaped tomatoes sent to her from fans of her gardening advice.     1    . The good news, Damiano said, is that there is nothing wrong with the strangely shaped fruits.     2    . Their unusual appearance does not affect their taste or nutritional value.

    3     If you have ever cut open a tomato, you know they are divided into internal (内部的) parts, called locules (小室). Most tomatoes have about four or five locules; other kinds of the fruit, like cherry tomatoes, contain two or three. But when a plant experiences extreme (极端的) temperature, cell division in the developing fruit can go off track. Temperatures over 32℃ during the day and 27℃ overnight can lead the tomato to form an extra locule. But there is not enough room inside a tomato for the extra part, so it grows on the outside of the fruit.

Not every tomato on an affected plant will be deformed (改变形状), however. What are the possibilities? Under the right conditions (temperatures that are too hot or even too cold), this could affect one or two tomatoes per plant, depending on where they are in the development process and what the (weather) conditions are, said Timothy McDermott, a professor at Ohio State University. The possibility of one of your tomatoes developing a locule oddity (怪异) is about one in a thousand, McDermott said.     4     But, Damiano noted, heirloom (原种) kinds seem more likely to have this genetic mutation (基因变异) than hybrids.

And, when harvesting your crop, remember:     5    

A．select the good-looking ones.

B．Any tomato can grow an extra locule.

C．the funny-looking tomatoes taste just as good!

D．What causes the unusual appearance of tomatoes?

E．Unless otherwise diseased, they are perfectly good for eating.

F．She said people sometimes question if the tomatoes are okay to eat.

G．Provide shade for your plants when temperatures are predicted to remain above 32℃.

4 . Though fireworks (烟花) on bonfire night bring joy to many people, it is likely to be a night of fright and pain for the UK’s geese (鹅).

Research by Anglia Ruskin University has found that fireworks displays (表演) cause wild birds to suffer significant pain, and researchers have recommended that displays should not take place in areas with large wildlife populations. A study, published in the journal Conservation Physiology, is one of the first carried out into the effects of fireworks on wildlife. It found that the heart rate (率) of geese increases by 96% when they are influenced by fireworks displays.

The study involved 20 wild grey lag geese fitted with recorders to record their heart rate and body temperature, which are measures of physiological stress. Claudia Wascher, who led the research, found that the average heart rate increased from 63 to 124 beats per minute, and their average body temperature increased from 38℃ to 39℃, in the first hour of fireworks displays. It took the geese about five hours before the birds displayed normal body temperatures, with average readings returning by 5 am.

“Ours is one of the first scientific studies to examine whether fireworks disturb wildlife. There have been previous studies showing that fireworks can cause anxiety in pets, for example in dogs, but little research has been done into how animals in the wild react. We need to carry out further research to conclusively tell whether the geese are reacting to the noise or the light pollution from the fireworks, or a combination of both. Many people get a lot of enjoyment from fireworks but it’s important that we consider animals both pets and wildlife — whenever planning a display,” Wascher said.

1. What advice do researchers give according to the findings of the study?

A．Geese should be protected especially at night.

B．Great attention should be paid to the UK’s geese.

C．Fireworks displays should be held without harming wildlife.

D．Fireworks displays should take place to bring joy to people.

2. Why were 20 wild grey lag geese fitted with recorders?

A．To compare the heart rates between them.

B．To make them safe and sound in the wild.

C．To keep their body temperature normal.

D．To measure their physiological stress.

3. How long do the geese need to get over the effect of fireworks displays on body temperature?

A．About five hours.	B．About four hours.
C．About two hours.	D．About one hour.

4. What may Wascher’s further research about?

A．The relations between light pollution from fireworks and geese.

B．The effects of noise and light pollution from fireworks on geese.

C．Whether fireworks influence other wild animals.

D．The influence of a display on pets and wildlife.

5 . With the busy lifestyle of the modern world and the increasing demands on our time, napping (小睡) is becoming something only available for seniors and children of society. However, napping is a pleasant experience for taking a break from our daily work.     1     as you will be more energetic and clear to continue.

There are a variety of reasons why napping is necessary for humans. Some believe the Circadian rhythms (昼夜节律) decide the highs and lows of the waking state. The time after a large noonday meal is a perfect time to mark the change because digestion (消化) will create sleepiness.     2    .

Napping is not deep sleep but rather a short period of time, usually 20—30 minutes.     3    . Often people will go into the alpha state of deep rest while maintaining some level of wakefulness. People that experience this alpha state regularly will increase their creativity and expand their thought processes.

Traditionally, naps are taken after the midday meal, between 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm. Every culture around the world recognizes napping. In farming countries, a midday break is usual because of their early and late work schedules.     4    , while people in countries like Spain would prefer to take their naps in the comfort of their own homes.

    5    . Short naps generally don’t affect nighttime sleep quality for most people. But if you experience poor sleep quality at night, napping might worsen these problems. In addition, some people simply can’t sleep during the day or have trouble sleeping in places other than their own beds, which napping sometimes requires.

A．Napping isn’t for everyone.

B．Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults.

C．This deep relaxation is more valuable than deep sleep.

D．Most doctors recommend a short break after the midday meal to digest.

E．Some countries like France offer special areas in the workplace as napping

F．However, research has discovered that napping occurs even without the large meal.

G．Many believe taking the time for napping will be more beneficial than the time lost from work.

6 . It’s often said that we human beings can dream in a foreign language. Could dreaming in a foreign language improve our memory? Does dreaming in a foreign language mean we are making progress in learning that language?

Before we look at multilingual (多语言) dreams, first we need to look at sleep. The connection between sleep and language can be applied to how we learn any language, including our native language. Even adults still learn about one new word every two days in their first language. But, if we are going to remember that new word better, what matters is that we need to connect it with what we have learned. And in order to do that, we “need to have some sleep”, says Gareth Gaskell, a professor at the University of York.

It’s during sleep that the integration (整合) of old and new knowledge happens. At might, one part of our brain — the hippocampus — takes whatever new information it receives during the day and passes it on to other parts of the brain to be stored. The role that dreams play in this night-time learning process is still being studied, but “it’s entirely possible that during multilingual dreams, the brain is trying to connect the two languages”, says Marc, a researcher at a university in Bern, Switzerland.

So having multilingual dreams could mean that our brain is trying to remember a new word or phrase. However, it could also have an emotional (情感) significance. Danuta, a professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Silesia in Poland, suggests that multilingual dreams can express “fears or wishes” around learning a foreign language, including the wish to be a local speaker or to be accepted within a certain community.

We clearly still have a lot to learn about multilingual dreams, but one thing seems certain: if you’re trying to learn a new language, you can sleep on it.

1. Why does the author mention questions in paragraph 1?

A．To compare different ideas.	B．To introduce the main topic.
C．To present different types of dreams.	D．To discuss the human language ability.

2. What is the key element in memorizing a new word according to the text?

A．The other new words.	B．The native language.
C．The gained knowledge.	D．The speaking practice.

3. What can we learn about multilingual dreams?

A．They may influence people’s sleep quality.	B．They can reflect language-learning feelings.
C．They are the best option to learn a language.	D．They help to clear up the useless information.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A novel.

B．A diary.

C．A guidebook.

D．A magazine.

7 . Nowadays, organizations are embracing digital transformation. This is a good thing. The downside, of course, is rising fraud (诈) and data theft. Research by Check Point Software Technologies showed there were 50% more cyberattacks per week on corporate networks in 2021 than in 2020. And these attacks affected the entire range of industries.

Not surprisingly, the cost of defending against these attacks is increasing too. Gartner predicts spending by the information security and risk management market will hit $172.5 billion in 2022. It estimates spend will reach$267.3 billion in 2026. The rise is partly explained by the growing attack surface. As companies make their processes digital, there are so many more areas to defend.

Needless to say, the continuous wave of attacks is increasing the workload of cybersecurity teams. Understandably, employees are becoming overworked and overwhelmed. Is this work pressure prompting unhappy staff to attack companies from the inside? It’s hard to say for certain. But there’s no doubt that the number of insider incidents is rising.

On the other hand, according to the 2022 Ponemon Institute Cost of Insider Threats: Global Report, the total of incidents has jumped by 44 percent in two years. It argues that carelessness is a bigger issue than genuine insider criminality and concludes 56 percent of incidents were the result of a careless employee or contractor.

Still, there is plenty of optimism around. In 2022, the World Economic Forum published its Global Cybersecurity Outlook. It stated that the remote working habit is making enterprises much more aware of the threat and consequently much more willing to spend on defence. It said: “The accelerating pace of digitalization due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift of our working habits are pushing cyber resilience (适应力) forward. As many as 87% of executives are planning to improve cyber resilience at their organization by strengthening resilience policies, processes and standards for how to engage and manage third parties.”

1. What is the shortcoming of the digital transformation?

A．The increasing fraud and data stealing.

B．The increasing workload in comforting staff.

C．The increasing cost of software technologies.

D．More people involving in the online management.

2. What does Gartner predict?

A．Organizations will face rising cyberattacks.

B．Spending by cybersecurity will increase greatly.

C．There will be more cyberattacks on corporate networks.

D．Many companies are planning to improve cyber resilience.

3. How many reasons are mentioned about the increasing cyberattacks?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

4. What can we know from the World Economic Forum?

A．Companies rely on the third party to protect themselves.

B．More people are encouraged to work through the Internet.

C．Remote working habit raises companies’ awareness of cybersecurity.

D．The COVID-19 pandemic is the main reason for speeding digitalization.

8 . Two female students have made history at the 2022 Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition, after they won the top two awards. It’s the first time both top prizes have been won by girls. The two winners were Connie Gray and Avye Couloute, who are both 14 years old.

Gray won the UK’s Young Scientist award for her research comparing the structures of birds’ feathers from different environments and climates. Her aim was to help with conservation efforts in areas around the world that are most affected by climate change. Couloute won the UK’s Young Engineer award for inventing a device to measure the levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a building, in an attempt to improve air quality. Reducing CO₂ levels could benefit classrooms and offices. Both winners received prizes of 2,000 pounds to continue their journeys in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

The competition was hosted at the Big Bang Fair in Birmingham, which ran from 22 to 24 June, and is a free celebration of STEM for 11 to 14-year-olds. More than 40, 000 young people enjoyed activities such as slime-making, drone-flying and using virtual reality (VR) to look at how the oceans can be saved. The organizers aimed to inspire young people to consider careers in STEM.

A survey was carried out before the event to find out how many young people are interested in STEM subjects and careers. It found that 40% of 11 to 16-year-olds said a career in STEM would allow them to make positive change in the world.

Dr Hilary Leevers, who was involved in organizing the fair, said, “It’s really encouraging that people are embracing STEM at an early age. We need more young people from all backgrounds to understand the role that STEM careers play, and for more of them to go on to work in science, engineering and technology.”

1. What do we learn about the 2022 Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition?

A．The top prizes went to girls.

B．It only lasted for four days.

C．It was designed for 11 to 16-year-olds.

D．Only a small fee was charged for admission.

2. What can we infer about Couloute?

A．She won the UK’s Young Scientist award.

B．She is a regular participant in the competition.

C．She tried to improve air quality in a building.

D．Her prize money will be used to improve her classroom.

3. What was the aim of the competition?

A．To encourage girls to love science and technology.

B．To motivate the youth to take up jobs in STEM.

C．To celebrate the great achievements in STEM.

D．To make the youth better know the competition.

4. What does Dr Hilary Leevers think of the competition?

A．Inspiring.

B．Moving.

C．Interesting.

D．Surprising.

10 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Soon, every robotic dog will have its day!

Isn’t it nice to always have a lovely dog follow you around and respond when     1     (ask) to sit down or shake hands? What     2     the dog has some unique skills, such as standing on one leg while resting on a chunk of tofu without destroying it, or continuously making back flips(后空翻)? This would be even better.

In fact, a life-like quadrupedal (四只脚的) robotic dog     3     is developed by Chinese tech company Xiaomi Corp seems like that special one.

    4     (weigh) 8.9 kilogram, about the size of a Doberman, CyberDog 2 is the latest push by Xiaomi to popularize quadrupedal robotics. With a black, shiny, futuristic design, CyberDog 2 can run along at speeds of 3.2 meters per second, analyze its surroundings in real-time, create navigational maps, plot its destination,     5     avoid obstacles (障碍物).

“Coupled with human posture and face     6     (recognize) tracking, CyberDog is capable of following its owner and avoiding obstacles,“ said Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi.

“This is the first time I     7     (see) a robotic dog in reality. It is quite cool!” said Zhang Lu,     8     university student in Wuhan, Hubei province, after witnessing CyberDog 2 during an exhibition earlier this month. “I have seen videos of people walking robotic dogs online. But it is     9     (interesting) in reality,” Zhang said, adding that domestic technology products have changed and developed rapidly.

On being asked     10     the robot dog can help deliver parcels, an employee at Xiaomi said as long as the weight of the package is within the acceptable range of the flat back area of the robotic dog, it can be done.