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In 1941, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov stated the Three Laws of Robotics. These laws come from the world of science fiction, but the real world is catching up. A law firm gave Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University $10 million to explore artificial intelligence. Peter Kalis, chairman of the law firm, K&L Gates, said the development of technology had led to questions that were never taken seriously before. What will happen when you make robots that are smart, independent thinkers and then try to limit their freedom?
Researcher Kalis said, “One expert said we’ll be at a point when we give an instruction to our robot to go to work in the morning and it turns around and says, ‘I’d rather go to the beach.’” He said that one day we would want laws to keep our free-thinking robots from running wild.
With the law firm’s gift, the university will be able to explore problems now appearing within automated industries. “Take driverless cars for example,” Kalis said. “If there’s an accident concerned with a driverless car, what policies do we have in place? What kind of insurance policies do they have?” In fact, people can take a ride in a driverless car in Pittsburgh where an American online transportation network company uses the city as a testing ground for the company’s driverless cars.
The problems go beyond self-driving cars and robots. Think about the next generation of smartphones, those chips fixed in televisions, computers, fridges, etc., and the ever-expanding collection of personal data being stored in the “cloud”. So can Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics be used in reality? Is it necessary to have a moral guideline that everyone can understand? Whatever it is, doing no harm should be the very first one.
1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A.Robot should have more freedom.
B.Technology is running ahead of laws.
C.The Three Laws of Robotics are practical.
D.Peter wants to explore artificial intelligence.
2.What makes humans worry about robots?
A.Robots may be out of control.
B.Robots can do something illegal.
C.Robots can become angry easily.
D.Robots may have many requests.
3.What is the third paragraph intended to tell us?
A.It’s hard for robots to obey rules.
B.A law on robotics is really a must.
C.Driverless cars can cause accidents.
D.Driverless cars are being tested out now.
4.What should the basic law on robotics be according to the text?
A.Robots should be cautiously used in life.
B.Robots should obey Asimov’s Three Laws.
C.Robots should be easy for people to operate.
D.Robots should help with people’s life and work.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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In 1941, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov stated the Three Laws of Robotics. These laws come from the world of science fiction, but the real world is catching up. A law firm gave Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University $10 million to explore artificial intelligence. Peter Kalis, chairman of the law firm, K&L Gates, said the development of technology had led to questions that were never taken seriously before. What will happen when you make robots that are smart, independent thinkers and then try to limit their freedom?
Researcher Kalis said, “One expert said we’ll be at a point when we give an instruction to our robot to go to work in the morning and it turns around and says, ‘I’d rather go to the beach.’” He said that one day we would want laws to keep our free-thinking robots from running wild.
With the law firm’s gift, the university will be able to explore problems now appearing within automated industries. “Take driverless cars for example,” Kalis said. “If there’s an accident concerned with a driverless car, what policies do we have in place? What kind of insurance policies do they have?” In fact, people can take a ride in a driverless car in Pittsburgh where an American online transportation network company uses the city as a testing ground for the company’s driverless cars.
The problems go beyond self-driving cars and robots. Think about the next generation of smartphones, those chips fixed in televisions, computers, fridges, etc., and the ever-expanding collection of personal data being stored in the “cloud”. So can Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics be used in reality? Is it necessary to have a moral guideline that everyone can understand? Whatever it is, doing no harm should be the very first one.
1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A. Robot should have more freedom.
B. Technology is running ahead of laws.
C. The Three Laws of Robotics are practical.
D. Peter wants to explore artificial intelligence.
2.What makes humans worry about robots?
A. Robots may be out of control.
B. Robots can do something illegal.
C. Robots can become angry easily.
D. Robots may have many requests.
3.What is the third paragraph intended to tell us?
A. It’s hard for robots to obey rules.
B. A law on robotics is really a must.
C. Driverless cars can cause accidents.
D. Driverless cars are being tested out now.
4.What should the basic law on robotics be according to the text?
A. Robots should be cautiously used in life.
B. Robots should obey Asimov’s Three Laws.
C. Robots should be easy for people to operate.
D. Robots should help with people’s life and work.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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Science fiction writers create imaginary worlds. The way things work in your imaginary worlds will be based on actual science. So it’s important for you to be familiar with the scientific principles and inventions that are related to your creation. For example, if you’re writing about human living on a planet with zero gravity, then you need to know the effects of zero gravity on the human body.
Then you have to figure out the exact rules of your imaginary worlds. And you have to follow them. If humans are able to breathe underwater in Chapter 1, your character can’t drown in a swimming pool in Chapter 3. The issue here is maintaining your readers’ trust. That means the readers are willing to pretend along with you. If you start out with an ordinary detective novel and then throw in someone breathing underwater in the 6th chapter, you will pull the readers out of their imagination. The same thing happens if you change the rules halfway.
Part of your preparation work for the novel is to map out its worlds in great detail. You should decide the following issues: the history of the world, the geography, what possibilities it offers, how everything works in this new reality, and how all of these factors affect the way your characters think, feel, and react to things. You don’t have to tell your readers all the rules in the first chapter. But you have to let readers know enough to understand what’s going on. This also allows you to work out logical problems and contradictions before you start writing.
When you are writing, remember to make it feel real. You are inviting readers to visit a new world. They will want to be able to see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste what it’s like. Whether your novel is about a world without disease or an undiscovered planet, help your readers feel like they’re actually there.
1.What’s the relationship between actual science and science fiction?
A. Science fiction promotes the development of actual science.
B. Science fiction often reflects the development of actual science.
C. Actual science limits the imagination described in science fiction.
D. Actual science provides basic principles for science fiction.
2.The second paragraph is mainly developed by .
A. making comparisons B. giving examples
C. following the time order D. analyzing causes
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. It is necessary to do some scientific experiments before writing science fiction.
B. It is more difficult to write science fiction than ordinary detective novels.
C. Readers of science fiction actually pretend the writers’ rules are true.
D. It is great to leave some contradictions in your science fiction.
4.The passage is mainly about .
A. how to do scientific research B. how to raise interest in science
C. what to expect from science fiction D. how to write science fiction
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Jake O' Brien，one of the central characters in Sterling R．Walker's science fiction novel The Orphan Ship，has just received some bad news. The medical school he has been going to is closing down because of financial(财务的)problems；and to make matters worse，the only other medical program in the world also happens to be on another planet. Thus，in order to become a doctor，Jake packs his suitcase and jumps on board the passenger ship Atlanta to go to Mars!
When Jake and his cousin Lorina Murphy journey to Mars Station in search of educational opportunities，they never guess they will turn into life savers. But because of the extreme poverty and child exploitation(剥削)happening on Mars，these two cousins are forced to accept their true destiny(命运)．However，they are not alone in their efforts to save the poor “street kids”．Early in the story these two heroes are joined by the crew(船员)of the Ishmael，which in the course of the story，becomes a rescue ship and a safe place for over one hundred homeless children.
In this novel，there are different themes. While fighting the cruel people who sell the “street kids” of Mars Station，the colorful characters of The Orphan Ship also manage to fall in love，find wealth，and form lasting friendships.
The real power of the story comes from the characters' expression of fellow feeling—a feeling of understanding others because you have shared similar experiences. The characters in The Orphan Ship have a sense of social duty and spiritual commitment. For example，at one point in the story，shocked by the way the homeless children have been treated，Lorina notices “a pair of black children sitting under a streetlight begging food from passersby”．Yet “no one gave the children a second look.” Fortunately，however，Lorina and her newfound friends—the crew of the Ishmael，which soon becomes the “Orphan Ship”—do indeed care for the children of Mars Station，as they join forces to provide them safe passage to earth and also a home. In this way the theme of compassion is the centerpiece of the entire novel.
1.Jake decides to go to Mars because ______.
A. studying medicine is cheaper on Mars than on earth
B. the medical school on Mars is better than that on earth
C. Mars is the only place where he can realize his dream
D. his cousin encourages him to become a doctor on Mars
2.What's Jake and his cousin's destiny?
A. To save other people's lives.
B. To become the crew of the Ishmael.
C. To fail to get an education on Mars.
D. To make friends with homeless children.
3.All the following are themes of the novel EXCEPT ______.
A．friendship B．spreading knowledge
C．finding wealth D．love
4.The underlined word “them” in the last paragraph refers to ______.
A．passersby B．Lorina's newfound friends
C．homeless children D．the black
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Many science fiction stories tell about explorers arriving in a new world. The explorers then use some kind of high-tech device to test for breathable air or signs of life. But here on Earth, science fiction is becoming reality through a new sampling technology called environmental DNA, or eDNA for short. Scientists can use it to identify rare species or estimate fish populations with just a little air or water.
Environmental DNA can be used in two ways. One is to identify the creatures that live in a certain place. The other is to confirm the presence or lack of a specific creature.
Caren Goldberg is one of the first biologists to take the technology from the testing stage to actually using it. She sees eDNA as a way to get answers more efficiently and with less destruction compared to traditional survey techniques. Until recently, scientists depended on snorkeling ( 潜水), netting or using an electric current to temporarily catch fish.
This newer way to identify what lives in the environment is becoming popular around the world. Animal experts in Vietnam are using the eDNA to find the last, wild Yangtze giant softshell turtles. One researcher on the Caribbean island of Trinidad is using the sampling technology to find endangered golden treefrogs. In Madagascar, it is being used to identify amphibian(两栖动物)diseases.
Ms Goldberg has used eDNA testing to confirm the local extinction (灭绝) of a leopard frog in the American state of Idaho. She has also been asked to document the spread of the New Zealand mudsnail in the state of Washington. The creature has been found in lakes and other waterways across the state.
Scientists working with the technology say they do not expect robots to replace field biologists anytime soon. But the old-fashioned field work could soon be more targeted.
1.Compared to traditional survey techniques, eDNA is more______.
A. complex B. eco-friendly
C. dangerous D. convincing
2.By using eDNA, Caren Goldberg has______.
A. succeeded in catching many fishes
B. found the existence of golden treefrogs
C. documented the spread of softshell turtles
D. confirmed the disappearance of the leopard frog in Idaho
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph ?
A. Robots will replace scientists soon.
B. Some scientists are against using eDNA.
C. The old-fashioned field work may disappear.
D. Many biologists are unwilling to do the field work.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. Science Fiction Becomes Reality for Species Surveys
B. Biologists Explore Space with the Help of eDNA
C. Scientists Found Methods to Test for Signs of Life
D. New Technologies Are Presented in Science Fictions
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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1.Which film is the most suitable for a high school student interested in science fictions?
A. I Feel Pretty. B. Traffik. C. Genesis. D. Le Redoutable.
2.If you are a big fan of film star Michelle Williams, you will choose to watch _______.
A. I Feel Pretty B. Traffik C. Genesis D. Le Redoutable
3.Which of the following statement is true about the film Le Redoutable?
A. The story happens in Great Britain.
B. The film lasts more than two hours.
C. It intends to discuss the nature and value of free will.
D. It's a love story between a film director and an actress.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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In today’s class, Miss Hang is going to ________ the science fiction novel where she left off yesterday.
A. take up B. break up C. pick up D. spring up
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
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艾萨克·阿西莫夫（Isaac Asimov）是美国科学家兼作家，1920年1月2日出生于俄罗斯， 1992年4月6日于纽约去世。1948年他获得了化学博士学位。第二年在波士顿大学的医学院任生化教师。1958年他放弃了教学工作成为专职作家。一生中，他写过大约480本书，包括怪诞小说、科学和历史方面的书，甚至还写过有关《圣经》和莎士比亚的书。但使他最负盛名的作品是他的科幻小说, 如《基地》三部曲，《我，机器人》等。
高二英语书面表达中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Nineteenth-century writers in the United States, whether they wrote novels, short stories, poems or plays, were powerfully drawn to the railroad in its golden years. In fact, writers responded to the railroads as soon as the first were built in the 1830’s. By the 1850’s, the railroad was a major presence in the life of the nation. Writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David saw the railroad both as a boon(要求) to democracy(民主国家) and as an object of suspicion. The railroad could be and was a despoiler(掠夺者) of nature, furthermore, in its manifestation of speed and noise. It might be a despoiler of human nature as well. By the 1850’s and 1860’s, there was a great distrust among writer and intellectuals of the rapid industrialization of which the railroad was a leading force. Deeply philosophical historians such as Henry Adams lamented the role that the new frenzy for business was playing in eroding traditional values. A distrust of industry and business continued among writers throughout the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth.
For the most part, the literature in which the railroad plays and important role belong to popular culture rather than to the realm of serious art. One thinks of melodramas, boys’ books, thrillers, romances, and the like rather than novels of the first rank. In the railroads’ prime years, between 1890 and 1920, there were a few individuals in the United States, most of them with solid railroading experience behind them, who made a profession of writing about railroading—works offering the ambience of stations, yards, and locomotive cabs. These writers, who can genuinely be said to have created a genre, the “railroad novel”, are now mostly forgotten, their names having faded from memory. But anyone who takes the time to consult their fertile writings will still find a treasure trove of information about the place of the railroad in the life of the United States.
1.The underlined word “it” in the passage refers to______.
A. railroad B. manifestation C. speed D. nature
2.In the first paragraph, the author implies that writers’ reactions to the development of railroads were______.
A. highly enthusiastic B. both positive and negative C. unchanging D. Disinterested
3. According to the passage, the railroad played a significant role in literature in all of the following kinds of books except_______.
A. thrillers B. boys’ books C. romances D. important novels
4. The phrase “first rank” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to______.
A. largest category(类别) B. highest quality C. earliest writers D. most difficult language
5. Which of the following topics is the main idea of passage?
A. The role of the railroad in the economy of the USA
B. Major nineteenth century writers
C. The conflict between expanding industry and preserving nature
D. The railroad as a subject for literature
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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Anais Nin was a famous writer. Nin was born French-Cuban but lived in the United States in her later years of life till she died. Nin’s works had her relationships with authors，artists，and other figures as the main subject. Some of her writings were made into films. Nin was also a visiting lecturer in several colleges and promoted Women's Movement with her strong writings.
Anais Nin was born in France in 1903. Her father was a Spanish artist and a composer living in Cuba（古巴）where he met her mother, a French singer working in Cuba. As a child Nin was brought up in Spain. When her parents separated, Nin and her two brothers moved to New York with their mother. At the age of 16 Nin decided to give up studying and started to work as a dancer and model to reduce the financial burden on her mother so that her brothers could go on with their studies.
In 1923 Nin got married to her husband，Hugh Parker Guiler in Cuba. In 1924 Nin and Hugh moved to Paris where Hugh continued with his banking career and Nin started writing. Nin wrote her first book in print, D. H. Lawrence：An Unprofessional Study in 16 days. In 1939 Nin left Paris as it was a French government's request to its residents to leave Paris because of the coming war. Nin returned to New York with Hugh and sent her written books to Frances Steloff of the Gotham Book Mart in New York for safekeeping.
In 1931 Nin wrote her book Henry and June from the Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin. In 1936 Nin published House of Incest which was a 72-page fiction novel.
Nin also appeared and was a part of various films. In 1973 Anais Nin was awarded an honorary doctorate（荣誉博士学位）by the Philadelphia College of Art. In 1974 Nin was elected to the United States National Institute of Arts and Letters.
In 1977 Nin died in her Los Angeles home after battling with cancer for three years.
1.What information can we get from Paragraph one?
A．Anais Nin was a native American.
B．Anais Nin started Women's Movement.
C．Anais Nin gave lectures in several colleges.
D．Anais Nin wrote mainly about her family life.
2.Why did Nin and her husband move back to New York in 1939?
A．Because they expected to enter the film industry.
B．Because the couple wanted to stay away from the coming war.
C．Because they intended to have her books published.
D．Because they both meant to promote the sales of new books.
3.We can infer from the passage that＿．
A．Nin got married in 1923 and started writing a year later
B．Nin wrote her book Henry and June from the Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin after she moved to America
C．Nin directed and played in various films
D．Anais Nin was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Philadelphia College of Science
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析