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While the start of a new school year is always exciting, this year was even more so for some elementary school students in Auckland, New Zealand. They became the world’s first kids to be “taught” by a digital teacher. Before you start imagining a human-like robot walking around the classroom, Will is just an avatar that appears on the student’s desktop, or smartphone screen, when ordered to come.
The autonomous animation platform has been modeled after the human brain and nervous system, allowing it to show human-like behavior. The digital teacher is assigned to teach Vector’s “Be sustainable with energy”— a free program for Auckland elementary schools.
Just like the humans it replaced, Will is able to instantly react to the students’ responses to the topic. Thanks to a webcam and microphone, the avatar not only responds to questions the kids may have, but also picks up non-verbal cues. For instance, if a student smiles at Will, he responds by smiling back. This two-way interaction not only helps attract the students’ attention, but also allows the program’s developers to monitor their engagement, and make changes if needed.
Nikhil Ravishankar believes that Will-like avatars could be a novel way to catch the attention of the next generation. He says, “I have a lot of hope in this technology as a means to deliver cost-effective, rich, educational experience in the future.”
The program, in place since August 2018, has been a great success thus far. Ravishankar says, “ What was fascinating to me was the reaction of the children to Will. The way they look at the world is so creative and different, and Will really captured their attention.” However, regardless of how popular it becomes, Will is unlikely to replace human educators any time soon.
1.What was special for some elementary school students in Auckland?
A. A digital teacher taught them.
B. They first saw something digital.
C. This was the start of a new school year.
D. They could get close to smartphone screen.
2.What is the benefit of this two-way interaction?
A. It can smile back. B. It can use microphone.
C. It can talk any topic for free. D. It can change if necessary.
3.What’s Ravishankar’s attitude to Will’s replacing Human educators soon?
A. Optimistic. B. Doubtful.
C. Unclear. D. Disapproving.
4.What might be the best title for the passage?
A. New High-tech Contributes to Education
B. The World’s First Digital Teacher Appears in Classroom.
C. The World’s First Digital Teacher, a Help to Students
D. New Zealand Will Replace Teachers in Classrooms
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In recent years, increasing numbers of extra-wide parking spaces have been specially designed for female drivers in some cities. Some like the idea, but others call it discriminatory, saying it implies women are worse drivers than men. So are parking spaces for women considerate or discriminatory? Forum readers share their opinions.
Leonard Wong (Singapore)
I think there is no necessity for such a special treatment. If they are truly poorer drivers, they have to brush up on their driving skills instead. When obtaining a license, they should have stricter tests or more practice sessions. If you do this, when some of them go overseas, they might get into trouble due to the smaller lots there.
Robert (US)
In the US some stores have special parking spaces, larger than normal and close to the store，for pregnant women. Maybe this is the intention. Besides, how many men go to shopping malls on their own regularly? There are always much larger than normal parking spaces in the US for the handicapped. Most are usually empty. Does this mean the handicapped are being labeled as “less than”？
Ivanapge (Singapore)
It is not practicable. There are places where parking lot space is limited and if you reserve some lots for just lady drivers, the lot would go to waste if there are no lady drivers going to park. If she is considered a capable driver who can manage on her own, why need special treatment? There are also man drivers who are as bad when it comes to driving or parking skills. Should they be given special treatment as well? Just improve your skills.
Cdogg (Canada)
It’s a good idea if it keeps the parking lot flowing and free of minor accidents, where no one moves out of the way for other drivers to pass. It is a bad idea if these spots are not used and creates overcrowding where people just sit, waiting for space around the lot. Time will tell.
1.Who share the similar idea in the passage?
A.Leonard Wong and Robert B.Leonard Wong and Ivanapge
C.Leonard Wong and Cdogg D.Robert and Ivanapge
2.According to Robert, which of the following can be inferred?
A.All the stores have special parking spaces.
B.The parking spaces are much smaller there.
C.Few men go to shopping malls alone regularly.
D.The disabled are treated as “less than”.
3.What is the main focus of the passage?
A.Are female drivers good at parking?
B.Are women good at driving cars?
C.Are parking spaces for women discriminatory?
D.Do female drivers deserve more parking spaces?
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More primary care doctors in a community (社区) appear to lead to improved life expectancy for people living there，though a lack of such physicians across U.S. could be a cause of concern for overall population health in years to come.
For the study, researchers looked at physician counts per 100,000 people in a range covering 2005 to 2015 in the U. S.，along with life expectancy and specific causes of death. They found that an increase of 10 primary care physicians per 100,000 population was associated with a 51. 5-day increase in life expectancy, while an increase of 10 specialty physicians per 100, 000 population increased life expectancy by 19. 2 days. An increase in primary care physicians also was associated with reductions of many deaths including heart diseases and cancers.
Along with those findings, though, the study said many communities did not have primary care physicians in 2015，with the decline in supply more prominent in rural areas than their urban areas. Many believe that a well-functioning health care system requires a solid foundation of primary care, however, payment difference between primary care and technical specialties continue to dispirit the U. S. primary care physician workforce.
“Higher pay and lifestyle preferences lead most students to choose non-primary care fields, even when their hearts say primary care,” the study said. “We must turn this trend around with practical changes in physician payment policy; no amount of superb primary care training or creative practice reform will prevent further declines in primary care physician, which will lead to worsening health for the United States. ”
The study’s researchers conclude that future research should focus on the “quality and cover of primary care，types of primary care physician training and service offerings, and effective access rather than just supply”.
1.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?
A.Provide some data for the readers.
B.Offer some tips on life expectancy.
C.Add some background information.
D.Stress the importance of primary care.
2.Which of the following best explains “prominent” underlined in Paragraph 3?
A.Adequate. B.Considerate.
C.Obvious. D.Reasonable.
3.What discourages young people from taking up the primary care?
A.Primary care is badly paid.
B.They have to work in rural areas,
C.They need to face fierce competition.
D.Primary care lacks superb training
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Primary care can lengthen life.
B.Primary care needs improving.
C.Primary care physicians are decreasing.
D.Higher pay attracts more primary care physicians
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As the Camp Fire continued, killing at least 85 people and displacing thousands more in Northern California, Madison waited there.
Gaylord, the Anatolian shepherd mix’s owner, was not able to get to her home in Paradise, when the fire began to spread, meaning Madison was left behind. For weeks, all Gaylord could do was pray for Madison’s safety, according to California-based animal rescue organization Paw Print Rescue.
Sullivan, a volunteer with the organization, had already helped locate Madison’s brother Miguel in a different city. But Madison was even more difficult to find. Sullivan spotted Madison a few times in a canyon (峡谷), apparently guarding his land, and put out fresh food and water regularly in hopes that the dog would turn up, according to a Facebook post by Sullivan. She even placed an article of clothing that smelled like Gaylord near the home “to keep Madison’s hope alive until his people could return,” Sullivan wrote.
When the evacuation (疏散) order was lifted last week and Gaylord went back to her home—which had been ruined by the fire—her prayers were answered: Madison was there, seemingly protecting what little remained of his family’s home. “Well, I’m so happy to report that Gaylord was allowed to return to her home today and THERE MADISON WAS!!!! He had stayed to protect what was left of his home, and never gave up on his people!” Sullivan wrote in the comment on her Facebook post. “I’m so happy I’m crying as I write this! He didn’t give up through the storms or the fire!” she added.
Soon afterward, Madison was reunited with Miguel for the first time since the fire broke out. An emotional Gaylord said in an interview with the network that she was overcome with joy to see Madison waiting for her. She also expressed how grateful she was to Sullivan. Gaylord said fighting through tears, “You could never ask for better animals. He is the best dog.”
1.What did Madison do during the Camp Fire?
A.He rescued Sullivan.
B.He waited for Gaylord.
C.He stayed with Miguel.
D.He ran away from Paradise.
2.Why did Sullivan place an article of clothing smelling like Gaylord near the home?
A.To keep Madison warm.
B.To get Madison to turn up.
C.To help Madison remember his owner.
D.To encourage Madison not to give up.
3.Where was Madison finally found?
A.In a different city. B.In a canyon.
C.At a camp. D.At his home.
4.What quality is emphasized in this story?
A.Patience. B.Unity.
C.Devotion. D.Wisdom.
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