Two musicians from Germany are using robotic equipment to add sounds to their performances. The two-man band performs with a robot that can play several musical instruments at the same time. The robot can sound like a guitar, keyboard, drum or other percussion instrument. When performing, members of the band provide many of the sounds, but others are controlled by a computer. Once connected to wires and set up, instruments can play on their own.
One of the instruments was created from a long, self-turning wooden stick that sits on top of a microphone stand. The stick contains long strings. They are tied on each end. The strings are connected to a small wooden ball. As the stick turns, the ball hits a block on the floor, creating a sound.
The two-man band, called Joasihno, recently performed at the South by Southwest Conference and Music Festival in Austin, Texas. They describe their electronic sound as “psychedelic (迷幻的) machine” music. “Actually, we call it a psychedelic robot orchestra,” said Cico Beck, one of the creators of the group.
The group’s other member, Nico Siereg, says playing in an experimental band with robots is not the same as playing in a traditional one. “It’s a little bit different because you also have in mind that there are machines playing around you, so there’s no reaction from them,” he said. But Siereg said that in some ways, the robots actually help him improve his performance. Since the self-playing instruments are programmed, he sometimes feels freer to center on what he is playing, and at times to even play without preparation.
The musician says he can imagine similar technology having a greater influence on many different kinds of music in the future. “Technology is like a very important tool that even, very often, it’s also a very important part of inspiration,” he said. But he also expressed hope that “real music won’t die.”
In addition to performing recently in Texas, Joashihno has been busy putting on shows in Europe and in Canada. The band hopes its high-tech music “experiment” will keep reaching new people and pleasing the ears of its fans.
1.According to the first paragraph, the robotic equipment __________.
A.is operated by a wooden stick
B.serves as a whole band
C.fuctions as musical instruments
D.is battery-powered
2.What does Nico Siereg think of playing music with robots?
A.It is better than playing with human being.
B.It is just a pity that the robots cannot respond to him.
C.It has a negative effect on his performance because robots distract him.
D.It is strange for him to have some machines playing around him.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Robots will replace musical instruments.
B.This new style of performance has become popular around the world.
C.One member of the band doesn’t think playing with robots is real music.
D.The machines are programmed to create many sounds.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Real Music Won’t Die
B.Adding New Blood to Traditional Music
C.High Technology Is Applied to Music
D.Robots Will Wipe Out Human Beings
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Two musicians from Germany are using robotic equipment to add sounds to their performances. The two-man band performs with a robot that can play several musical instruments at the same time. The robot can sound like a guitar, keyboard, drum or other percussion instrument. When performing, members of the band provide many of the sounds, but others are controlled by a computer. Once connected to wires and set up, instruments can play on their own.
One of the instruments was created from a long, self-turning wooden stick that sits on top of a microphone stand. The stick contains long strings. They are tied on each end. The strings are connected to a small wooden ball. As the stick turns, the ball hits a block on the floor, creating a sound.
The two-man band, called Joasihno, recently performed at the South by Southwest Conference and Music Festival in Austin, Texas. They describe their electronic sound as “psychedelic (迷幻的) machine” music. “Actually, we call it a psychedelic robot orchestra,” said Cico Beck, one of the creators of the group.
The group’s other member, Nico Siereg, says playing in an experimental band with robots is not the same as playing in a traditional one. “It’s a little bit different because you also have in mind that there are machines playing around you, so there’s no reaction from them,” he said. But Siereg said that in some ways, the robots actually help him improve his performance. Since the self-playing instruments are programmed, he sometimes feels freer to center on what he is playing, and at times to even play without preparation.
The musician says he can imagine similar technology having a greater influence on many different kinds of music in the future. “Technology is like a very important tool that even, very often, it’s also a very important part of inspiration,” he said. But he also expressed hope that “real music won’t die.”
In addition to performing recently in Texas, Joashihno has been busy putting on shows in Europe and in Canada. The band hopes its high-tech music “experiment” will keep reaching new people and pleasing the ears of its fans.
1.According to the first paragraph, the robotic equipment __________.
A.is operated by a wooden stick
B.serves as a whole band
C.fuctions as musical instruments
D.is battery-powered
2.What does Nico Siereg think of playing music with robots?
A.It is better than playing with human being.
B.It is just a pity that the robots cannot respond to him.
C.It has a negative effect on his performance because robots distract him.
D.It is strange for him to have some machines playing around him.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Robots will replace musical instruments.
B.This new style of performance has become popular around the world.
C.One member of the band doesn’t think playing with robots is real music.
D.The machines are programmed to create many sounds.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Real Music Won’t Die
B.Adding New Blood to Traditional Music
C.High Technology Is Applied to Music
D.Robots Will Wipe Out Human Beings
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ______ working here. But whether to stay or leave is ___________.
| A．with; on you | B．about; up to you | C．at; up to you | D．over; beyond you |
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Faced with economic slowdown, some companies are planning to use robots to ______ human workers to reduce their labor costs.
A. compensate B. substitute
C. symbolize D. discriminate
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Faced with economic slowdown, some companies are planning to use robots to ______ human workers to reduce their labor costs.
A. compensate B. substitute
C. symbolize D. discriminate
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
A team of scientists from University of Freiburg in Germany are developing a shoe with a sensor to automatically tie its laces(鞋带)that could be taken off when users click their heels together．
It’s been 26 years since we saw them magically tightening Marty McFly’s Nike boots in the film Back to The Future．
Now，self-tying shoelaces could actually become a reality this year，proving right one of the film’s fantastical predictions for what 2015 would be like．
Engineers have designed a shoe that can automatically lace up，adjusting itself to the shape of your foot．
Simply slip the controller on and pressure sensors will tell the ‘smart shoe’ when your foot is in position，triggering(触发)a tiny motor in the heel that pulls the laces tight.
When you want to take off the shoes，you click your heels together twice and the motor will release a spring(弹簧)in the shoe’s tongue，which loosens the laces enough for you to slip them off．
And the invention doesn’t even need to be plugged in to charge or have its battery replaced because it runs on power generated by the swing of your foot as you walk.
Engineer K1evis Ylli，of the Institute for Micromachining and Information Technology in southern Gemany，said the shoes could help a variety of different people.
“One focus is that it could be used in shoes for elderly people who have mobility problems，”he said．“But it could also work for children，or as a lifestyle product．”．
The design，which is still in a prototype(雏形)stage，cleverly gets the energy of the foot’s swing when opposing magnets in each shoe move past each other. It then uses that power to charge a battery．An hour of walking is enough to tighten the laces once，and it requires no energy to undo the shoes because that relies on the spring alone.
1.Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
A．A fantastical prediction
B．A great invention in Germany
C．A shoe with self-tying laces
D．A popular lifestyle product
2.What can we learn about the shoes?
A．They can automatically take off．
B．They can adjust themselves to your foot．
C．They need to be charged once．
D．They have been in design for 26 years．
3.From the last paragraph we can know ____________．
A．the shoes have been put into use
B．the shoes need power to take off
C．the shoes promise to be popular
D．how the shoes work to produce energy
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A team of scientists from University of Freiburg in Germany are developing a shoe with a sensor to automatically tie its laces(鞋带)that could be taken off when users click their heels together．
It’s been 26 years since we saw them magically tightening Marty McFly’s Nike boots in the film Back to The Future．
Now，self-tying shoelaces could actually become a reality this year，proving right one of the film’s fantastical predictions for what 2015 would be like．
Engineers have designed a shoe that can automatically lace up，adjusting itself to the shape of your foot．
Simply slip the controller on and pressure sensors will tell the ‘smart shoe’ when your foot is in position，triggering(触发)a tiny motor in the heel that pulls the laces tight.
When you want to take off the shoes，you click your heels together twice and the motor will release a spring(弹簧)in the shoe’s tongue，which loosens the laces enough for you to slip them off．
And the invention doesn’t even need to be plugged in to charge or have its battery replaced because it runs on power generated by the swing of your foot as you walk.
Engineer K1evis Ylli，of the Institute for Micromachining and Information Technology in southern Gemany，said the shoes could help a variety of different people.
“One focus is that it could be used in shoes for elderly people who have mobility problems，”he said．“But it could also work for children，or as a lifestyle product．”．
The design，which is still in a prototype(雏形)stage，cleverly gets the energy of the foot’s swing when opposing magnets in each shoe move past each other. It then uses that power to charge a battery．An hour of walking is enough to tighten the laces once，and it requires no energy to undo the shoes because that relies on the spring alone.
1.Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
A．A fantastical prediction
B．A great invention in Germany
C．A shoe with self-tying laces
D．A popular lifestyle product
2.What can we learn about the shoes?
A．They can automatically take off．
B．They can adjust themselves to your foot．
C．They need to be charged once．
D．They have been in design for 26 years．
3.From the last paragraph we can know ____________．
A．the shoes have been put into use
B．the shoes need power to take off
C．the shoes promise to be popular
D．how the shoes work to produce energy
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Perhaps it is time for farmers to put their feet up now because robots are used to inspect crops, dig up weeds, and even have become shepherds, too. Commercial growing fields are astronomically huge and take thousands of many hours to operate. One prime example is one of Australia’s most isolated cattle stations, Suplejack Downs in the Northern Territory, extending across 4,000 square kilometers, taking over 13 hours to reach by car from the nearest major town — Alice Springs.
The extreme isolation of these massive farms leaves them often unattended, and monitored only once or twice a year, which means if the livestock (家畜) falls ill or requires assistance, it can be a long time for farmers to discover.
However, robots are coming to the rescue. Robots are currently under a two-year trial in Wales which will train “farmbots” to herd, monitor the health of livestock, and make sure there is enough pasture (牧草地) for them to graze on. The robots are equipped with many sensors to identify conditions of the environment, cattle and food, using thermal and vision sensors that detect changes in body temperature.
During the trials, the robot algorithms and mechanics will be fine-tuned to make it better suited to ailing livestock and ensure it safely navigates around potential hazards including trees, mud, swamps, and hills.
“We want to improve the quality of animal health and make it easier for farmers to maintain large landscapes where animals roam free,” says Salah Sukkarieh of the University of Sydney, who will carry out trials on several farms in central New South Wales.
The robots are not limited to herding and monitoring livestock. They have been created to count individual fruit, inspect crops, and even pull weeds.
Many robots are equipped with high-tech sensors and complex learning algorithms to avoid injuring humans as they work side by side. The robots also learn the most efficient and safest passages, and allow engineers and farmers to analyze and better optimize (优化) the performances and tasks of the robot, as well as provide a live stream giving real-time feedback on exactly what is happening on the farms.
Of course, some worry lies in replacing agricultural workers. However, it is farmers that are pushing for the advancements due to ever-increasing labor vacancies (空缺), making it difficult to maintain large-scale operations.
The robots have provided major benefits to farmers in various ways, from hunting and pulling weeds to monitoring the condition of every single fruit. Future farms will likely experience a greater deal of autonomy as robots take up more and more farm work efficiently.
1.What will “farmbots” be expected to do?
A.Take up many of the farmers’ routines. B.Provide medical treatments for livestock.
C.Lead the trend in farming the world over. D.Improve the quality of pastures for grazing.
2.What can robots do when equipped with high-tech sensors and complex learning algorithms?
A.Help farmers choose the most efficient and safest passages.
B.Help farmers simplify their farming tasks and management.
C.Allow farmers to learn instantly what is occurring on the farm.
D.Allow farmers to give them real-time instructions on what to do.
3.Why are farmers pressing for robotic farming?
A.Farming costs are fast increasing. B.Robotics technology is maturing.
C.Robotic fanning is the trend. D.Labor shortage is worsening.
4.What does the author think future farms will be like?
A.More and more automated. B.More and more productive.
C.Larger and larger in scale. D.Better and better in condition.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Computer-controlled robots are taking over jobs in many industries, which used to be done _______.
A. artificially B. manually
C. comprehensively D. gradually
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
From fast food cooks to doormen at restaurants and hotels, robots are slowly entering the workforce in nearly every industry. Most recently, the world welcomed its first operational robot policeman.
“Robocop”, the newest member of the Dubai police force, made the first public appearance on Sunday at the Fourth Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference, where it greeted guests. At about 70 inches tall and weighing nearly 220 pounds, Robocop seeks to engage with residents and tourists. Featuring an “emotion detector (探测器)”, the robot can recognize a person’s gestures and body language from about 5 feet away.
Robocop’s skills don’t stop there—the emotionally intelligent bot can detect if a person is happy, sad and even angry by studying his or her facial expression. And just like your human friends would do, if Robocop sees you’re unhappy, it will try to lift your spirits. More importantly, when it comes to fighting crime, the robot uses the Internet, artificial intelligence and other smart technologies to spot offenders using facial recognition. Its navigation (导航) skills grant it the ability to map out areas and travel on its own. Equipped with a built-in tablet, Robocop can communicate with people, speak six languages, respond to public inquiries, shake hands and even make military salutes.
“With the aim to assist people on the streets,” said Brigadier-General Khalid Nasser A1 Razzouqi, director-general of smart services at Dubai Police, “the Robocop is the latest smart addition to the force and has been designed to help us fight crime recently, keep the city safe and improve happiness levels.”
1.According to the text, Robocop can .
A. use body language B. make people happy
C. cook fast food D. ask questions in public
2.What is the key part when Robocop makes a traveling route?
A. Its navigation skills. B. Its built-in tablet.
C. Its emotion detector. D. Its own ability to travel.
3.Robocop is designed with the original intention of .
A. fighting crime B. acting as a doorman
C. helping people on the streets D. communicating with people
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Robocop has drawn great public attention
B. Robocop is playing the role as a policeman
C. Robocop will help you anytime and anywhere
D. Robocop is on the way to replacing the police official
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A robot designed to carry things moves quickly across a field to gather equipment at a sports event. Such equipment, like javelins and discuses (铁饼), has been thrown by competitors. Another robot moves a human-sized screen on wheels. It is designed to permit virtual attendance at the event. And then there are the robots designed to look like the smiling, friendly creatures or mascots that act as the Olympic Games’representatives.
All these robots are part of preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corporation presented the machines to reporters earlier this week. Toyota is a major supporter of the 2020 Olympic Games.
The mascot robots have moving arms and legs, and their eyes change to the image of stars and hearts. They cannot speak at all or walk very well. But Tomohisa Moridaira, lead engineer, suggested several possibilities, such as getting the robot to hold the Olympic torch using magnets.
The field support robot" is a small bus-shaped machine based on a Toyota ride-sharing vehicle that is still in development. The field support robot can travel as fast as 20 kilometers per hour. It holds three cameras and one special sensor that lets it surroundings. Around the top of its body are special lights that brighten when the vehicle is active. Its artificial intelligence helps it avoid barriers. It is also able to vary its path in order to protect areas of grass.
However, it cannot find the objects, which can weigh up to eight kilograms, or pick them up on its own. A person has to travel with the device, pick up the objects and put them in it. Then, with a press of a button, the vehicle transports the equipment to where it needs to go.
Takeshi Kuwabara took charge of the robots’ development. He said it was designed to team robots and humans. "Our aim was to leverage the strengths of both humans and robots," he said.
The carmaker plans to use the games to present its new vehicle technologies. These include buses fueled by a special kind of battery, and self-driving taxis. Toyota is competing with other carmakers and technology companies to develop low cost , robot-controlled cars and electric vehicles.
1.Why does the author mention robots in the first paragraph?
A.To attract our interest in robot technology.
B.To show us new robot technology in the 21st century.
C.To encourage creation of new robots.
D.To introduce the robots in the Olympic Games.
2.What is the feature of the "field support robot"?
A.It can work individually in the field.
B.It can sense barriers and change its way.
C.It is a Toyota ride-sharing vehicle.
D.It can find and pick up anything.
3.What is the purpose of the carmaker to use many robots in the Olympic Games?
A.To show its new vehicle technologies.
B.To help save the natural resources.
C.To cut down the cost of the service.
D.To free people from heavy work.
4.What can be the best title of the passage?
A.Robot Shows in the 2020 Olympics.
B.Toyota's - Support for the 2020 Olympics.
C.Robot Assistants in the 2020 Olympics.
D.Robot Competition in the 2020 Olympics.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析