In some science fiction movies, evil robots refuse to die, no matter how hard people fight back.

Now science fiction has become science fact. For the first time, scientists have made a robot that can take a beating and keep on going. Scientists from Cornell University made the robot, which looks like a spider with four legs.

Until now, even the most advanced (先进的) robot was almost certain to break down when it was damaged (毁坏). That is because its computer inside simply doesn’t know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed. 

To deal with this problem, the scientists put eight motors (发动机) and two sensors (传感器) that read how the machine is working. They all give signals to the machine’s software. Using this information, the computer can then figure out the machine’s shape at any moment.

The new technology is a big advance in robot-making, scientists say, and it’s far from scary. It may someday help scientists create better artificial (假的) arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose them. It might also help scientists understand how people and animals figure out their own sense of place in space.

“It has been difficult to design robots that can work well when the environment changes or when it’s damaged,” says Olaf Sporns of Indiana University in US. “With this work, we are nearer to solving this problem.”

1.Why do robots easily break down when they are damaged?

A．They cannot repair themselves.

B．The computer has changed a lot.

C．They have no computers inside.

D．The computer cannot work if the robot changes.

2.The new technology(技术) allows the robot to        .

A．keep working after being damaged

B．tell people where it is

C．do house work for humans

D．remember a lot of information

3.The underlined word “them” in Paragraph 5 refers to       .

A．sensors           B．robots            C．scientists          D．arms and legs

4.How do the sensors in the robot work?

A．They can replace the computer when it’s broken.

B．They help the computer learn the robot’s condition.

C．They can find out where the damage comes from.

D．They can send signals to the person who uses the robot.

 

In some science fiction movies, evil robots refuse to die, no matter how hard people fight back.
Now science fiction has become science fact. For the first time, scientists have made a robot that can take a beating(挨打) and keep on going. Scientists from Cornell University made the robot, which looks like a spider with four legs.
Until now, even the most advanced(先进的) robot was almost certain to break down when it was damaged(毁坏). That is because its computer inside simply doesn’t know how to make the machine work after its shape has changed.
To deal with this problem, the scientists put eight motors(发动机) and two sensors(传感器) that read how the machine is working. They all give signals to the machine’s software. Using this information, the computer can then figure out the machine’s shape at any moment.
The new technology is a big advance in robot-making, scientists say, and it’s far from scary. It may someday help scientists create better artificial(假的) arms and legs and give new freedom to people who lose them. It might also help scientists understand how people and animals figure out their own sense of place in space.
“It has been difficult to design robots that can work well when the environment changes or when it’s damaged,” says Olaf Sporns of Indiana University in US. “With this work, we are nearer to solving this problem.”
【小题1】Why do robots easily break down when they are damaged?

A．They cannot repair themselves.

B．The computer has changed a lot.

C．They have no computers inside.

D．The computer cannot work if the robot changes

【小题2】The new technology allows the robot to     .

A．do housework for humans

B．keep working after being damaged

C．remember a lot of information

D．tell people where it is

【小题3】The underline word “them” in Paragraph 5 refers to     .

A．sensors

B．robots

C．arms and legs

D．scientists

【小题4】How do the sensors in the robot work?

A．They can replace the computer when it’s broken.

B．They can find out where the damage comes from.

C．They help the computer learn the robot’s condition.

D．They can send signals to the person who uses the robot.

Fashion isn't very environmentally-friendly because it makes people buy things they don't need, just because they're new. We want to take care of the environment, we don't want to pol­lute the air and we don't want to waste energy and resources. But we also want to be fashiona­ble. How can we buy fashionable clothes and protect the environment?
Old styles are fashionable again, so one way is to buy second-hand clothes — recycled clothes. Another way is to buy' fair trade clothes. These clothes are either recycled or made in a ' way that protects the environment. They also protect the people who make the clothes.
Surprisingly, white cotton is one of the least environmentally-friendly crops of all. To pro­tect the cotton, the growers use chemicals that pollute water, make farm workers ill and kill wildlife. New materials, such as hemp and bamboo, grow quickly and are more environmental­ly-friendly. These materials are very soft, and look fantastic. The best materials are coloured using natural dyes, made from plants.
Environmentally-friendly clothes are practical but until now they were often dull. Now fashion-designers are working with these materials and the clothes are beautiful as well. So now we can buy fashionable clothes that are also environmentally-friendly.
【小题1】Why do people often buy things they don't need? Because_.

A．new things can be more comfortable

B．everyone wants to be fashionable

C．people are richer than before now

D．people care about the environment

【小题2】What's the topic for paragraph 2?
A. Recycled fashion. B. The problem with fashion.
C. Fashion doesn't have to pollute.       D. New materials.
【小题3】Which of the following is more environmentally-friendly?

A．Materials soft and looking fantastic.

B．Any materials coloured using natural dyes.

C．Hemp and bamboo.

D．White cotton.

【小题4】Why are environmentally -friendly clothes more fashionable now? Because______.

A．people pay more attention to our environment

B．environmentally-friendly clothes are practical

C．all old styles become fashionable again

D．fashion-designers are working to make them beautiful

【小题5】What is the best title for the passage?

A．Cotton or Hemp and Bamboo?

B．Environmentally-friendly Clothes

C．Old Style, New Fashion Again

D．Fashion and the Environment

In the opinion of many people, the two­parent family is the correct way to raise children. Traditionally, this has been as the most natural way, but single­parent families have had to face prejudices(偏见) against their life­style. However, the single­parent family is the fastest growing type of family. In the United States, a national survey showed that at least 50% of children will be members of a single­parent family. So we think it is important to throw prejudices away and to see the advantages of single­parent families.

When compared to two­parent families, single­parent families are usually at a disadvantage in some ways. They are often in short of money, and children receive less attention. What’s more, single parents can find themselves under too much pressure(压力) of both work and home. Despite(尽管) these disadvantages, it is possible for single­parent families to look for support from friends, schools, communities or other organizations. They need to remember that nobody can do it alone.

Surprisingly, single­parent families also have some advantages over two­parent families. Single parents have greater flexibility(灵活性) in spending time with children, because they don’t have to consider the needs of a husband or wife. So they can develop closer relationships with their children. Another advantage comes from the fact that single parents often work together with their children to solve problems, which makes children feel more needed and valued.

It’s important to remember that single­parent families have, until now suffered prejudices from some people. They think that it’s easier for the children in single­parent families to drop out of school in teens, and to be jobless in their early twenties. But, with the support from friends, schools and communities, single­parent families become more accepted by society, and this situation is certain to improve. In the future we will probably see these prejudices disappear.

1.What does the writer mainly tell us in Paragraph 1?

A. People shouldn’t have prejudices against single­parent families.

B. The single­parent family is not good for raising children.

C. The two­parent family is the correct way to raise children.

D. 50% of children will be members of a single­parent family in the USA.

2.Which disadvantage of single­parent families is NOT mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．They are often in short of money.

B．Children may receive less attention.

C．Children also suffer from the prejudice.

D．Parents are under pressure of both work and home.

3.How can single parents make their children feel more needed and valued?

A．Don’t consider the needs of others.

B．Pay more attention to their children.

C．Develop closer relationships with their children.

D．Discuss and solve problems together with their children.

4.Which of the following may be the best title for this passage?

A．Advantages and Disadvantages

B．Changing Views on Single­parent Families

C．Best Life­style for Children

D．Comparing Two Types of Family

 

In the opinion of many people, the two­parent family is the correct way to raise children. Traditionally, this has been as the most natural way, but single­parent families have had to face prejudices(偏见) against their life­style. However, the single­parent family is the fastest growing type of family. In the United States, a national survey showed that at least 50% of children will be members of a single­parent family. So we think it is important to throw prejudices away and to see the advantages of single­parent families.
When compared to two­parent families, single­parent families are usually at a disadvantage in some ways. They are often in short of money, and children receive less attention. What’s more, single parents can find themselves under too much pressure(压力) of both work and home. Despite(尽管) these disadvantages, it is possible for single­parent families to look for support from friends, schools, communities or other organizations. They need to remember that nobody can do it alone.
Surprisingly, single­parent families also have some advantages over two­parent families. Single parents have greater flexibility(灵活性) in spending time with children, because they don’t have to consider the needs of a husband or wife. So they can develop closer relationships with their children. Another advantage comes from the fact that single parents often work together with their children to solve problems, which makes children feel more needed and valued.
It’s important to remember that single­parent families have, until now suffered prejudices from some people. They think that it’s easier for the children in single­parent families to drop out of school in teens, and to be jobless in their early twenties. But, with the support from friends, schools and communities, single­parent families become more accepted by society, and this situation is certain to improve. In the future we will probably see these prejudices disappear.
【小题1】What does the writer mainly tell us in Paragraph 1?
A. People shouldn’t have prejudices against single­parent families.
B. The single­parent family is not good for raising children.
C. The two­parent family is the correct way to raise children.
D. 50% of children will be members of a single­parent family in the USA.
【小题2】Which disadvantage of single­parent families is NOT mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．They are often in short of money.

B．Children may receive less attention.

C．Children also suffer from the prejudice.

D．Parents are under pressure of both work and home.

【小题3】How can single parents make their children feel more needed and valued?

A．Don’t consider the needs of others.

B．Pay more attention to their children.

C．Develop closer relationships with their children.

D．Discuss and solve problems together with their children.

【小题4】Which of the following may be the best title for this passage?

A．Advantages and Disadvantages

B．Changing Views on Single­parent Families

C．Best Life­style for Children

D．Comparing Two Types of Family