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Scientists are carrying __1._____ experiments into using spiders’ cobweb to produce __2.____(extreme ) thin wire. The research _3.____( conduct) by researchers from Germany. They have developed
__4.___process for reducing spiders’ silk _5.___about one twentieth of its normal diameter.
__6.___ is hoped that this new wire will be effective in the __7.____(grow) field of micro-electronics. They have collected data on the properties of spider silk. Their work has found evidence _8.____ the silk of the black widow spider would be the __9.____ (idea)material for the new “nanowires”. It seems even the deadly black widow can serve the cause __10.___ the scientific progress.
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An experiment was carried out at British school into the performance of new pupils. At the start of the year, the pupils were each given a rating, ranging from “excellent prospect” to “unlikely to do well”. These were totally untrue ratings and did not reflect how well the pupils had previously performed. However, these ratings were given to the teachers. At the end of the year, the experimenters compared the pupils’ performance with the ratings. Despite their real abilities, there was an astonishingly high connection between performance and ratings. It seems that people perform as well as we expect them to.
The Self-fulfilling Effect is also known as the Pygmalion Effect. This comes from an old Greek story. The story was also the basis of George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion”, later turned into the musical “My Fair Lady”. In Shaw’s play, Professor Henry Higgins claims he can turn a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle into a duchess. But, as Eliza herself points out to Higgins’ friend Pickering, it isn’t what she learns or does that determines whether she will become a duchess, but how she’s treated.
The implication (含义) of the Pygmalion Effect for leaders and managers is massive. It means that the performance of your team depends less on them than it does on you. The performance you get from people is no more or less than what you expect, which means you must always expect the best. As Goethe said, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.”
1.The underlined word “rating” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by “_________”.
A. program B. regulation
C. correction D. classification
2.What’s the passage mainly about?
A. A new scientific experiment.
B. The Self-fulfilling Effect.
C. Shaw’s play “Pygmalion”.
D. An improved teaching method.
3.The experiment was made in order to _________.
A. try out a new teaching method
B. pick out the most excellent pupils
C. learn if expectations affect performance
D. give each pupil a proper rating
4.What made Eliza change into a duchess according to Eliza herself?
A. Strict training from Higgins.
B. Her own strong will and hard work.
C. The proper way she was regarded
D. Warm encouragement from Pickering.
5.According to the Pygmalion Effect, if you want a man to finish a hard task in a short time, you should say, “_________”.
A. I’m sure you can make it
B. I will help you any time
C. It is as easy as pie
D. It doesn’t matter if you fail
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Scientists have transformed men’s minds into a virtual（虚拟的）woman’s body in an experiment that could throw light upon how humans distinguish themselves form others.
In a study at Barcelona University, men wore a virtual reality headset that allowed them to see and hear the world as a female character. When they looked down, they could even see their new body and clothes.
The “body－swapping” effect was so convincing that the men’s sense of self was transferred into the virtual woman, causing them to react to events in the virtual world they were immersed（沉浸）. “This work opens up another avenue for virtual reality, which is not just to transform your sense of place, but also your sense of self,” said Mel Slater, “If you can temporarily give people the illusion that their bodies are different, then the evidence suggests it also affects their behavior and the way they think. They can have new experiences: a person who is thin can know what it is like to be fat. A man can have an experience of what it’s like to be a woman.”
During the experiment, a “female” approached and hit the face of the character another man was playing. “Their reaction was immediate,” said Slate. “They would take in a quick breath and maybe flinch（退缩）. The more people reported being in the girl’s body, the stronger physical reaction they had.” But in all cases, the feeling was temporary and lasted only as long as the study.
The study shows that our minds have a very fluid picture of our bodies. The research is expected to shed light on the puzzle of how our brain tells the difference between a part of our own body and something else in the wider world. Thus the work might improve the conditions for those who have experienced strokes by placing them in a world that helps them to use their bodies to the full again.
1.How can a man’s mind get into a woman’s body?
A．by distinguishing themselves from women
B．by taking part in an activity actively
C．by wearing a special device（设备）
D．by transforming his sense of place
2.Of the following statements, which we can’t infer from the passage?
A．Men in the experiment can temporarily have the wrong feeling that they are women.
B．When hit, the men in the virtual world will react angrily to it.
C．As soon as the experiment is finished, the men will return to the normal state
D．Probably, this study can be applied to medical fields and benefit humans.
3.What is the author’s intention of writing this passage?
A．to introduce an interesting and advanced study
B．to inform us of the latest development of virtual reality
C．to illustrate the importance of virtual reality
D．to build up our confidence to fight stroke
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From the first use of the rocket to carry satellites into space to the setting up of space stations，human beings have achieved many successes.But there are still numerous tasks in front of us and we should not stop trying to progress.
The international space station is an important step we should take in space exploration.It is not only helpful but also necessary.It provides a proper space environment for many experiments that we have wanted to do for a long time.It is also a base for observing the earth and the universe.It could also be an important base for later travel to the moon and Mars.In a word，if we want to explore space more，the first thing we should do is to set up a space station.
As the space station costs a lot of money，it is hard for one country alone to establish one.The US seems to be the only country that has the ability to build a space station alone，and it has tried to do so，but not very successful.So it aggregated many other countries to work on it together.Though it is still extremely expensive，it is much cheaper than doing it alone.It is really a job that needs everyone’s effort and will benefit everyone.
But even so，the funds (资金) needed are still a big problem.As for the US，it seems that it has too many things to spend its money on.Although it is the richest country in the world，it has much debt every year.It has to try to find a balance in all these issues.
1.What is the author’s attitude towards building and developing the international space station？
A. Supportive. B. Doubtful.
C. Worried. D. Reserved.
2.From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ______________.
A. the necessity of building the international space station is not realized now
B. many experiments have been done in the international space station
C. the international space station is necessary for people to explore space further
D. people have travelled to Mars from the international space station
3.Which of the following is NOT a reason for countries’cooperation in building the international space station？
A. It will benefit every participating country.
B. No country is able to build it alone.
C. It needs everyone’s effort.
D. It requires a lot of money.
4.All the following aspects about building the international space station are mentioned EXCEPT ______________.
A. difficulties B. cost
C. importance D. waste
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Medical scientists are already putting computer chips（芯片）directly into the brain to help people who have Parkinson’s disease, but in what other ways might computer technology be able to help us? Ray Kurzweil is the author of the successful book The Age Of Intelligent Machines. He is also one of the world’s best computer research scientists. He is researching the possibilities.
Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the virtual hostess of Kurzweil’s website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings.
Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a “seeing machine”. This will be “like a friend that could describe what is going on around,” he explains. Blind people will use a sensor（传感器）which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees.
Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the “listening machine”. This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it.
But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won’t be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever.
1.Ray Kurzweil is .
A. a famous medical scientist
B. a computer research scientist
C. a patient with Parkinson’s
D. an inventor of computer chips
2. What can Ramona do?
A. She can talk with her visitors.
B. She can treat brain diseases.
C. She can help deaf people listen.
D. She can teach people to sing.
3. How can the “seeing machine” help blind people?
A. It can help to treat their eyes.
B. It can translate into other languages.
C. It can help them to see the future.
D. It can describe to them what it sees.
4. The word “virtual” in Paragraph 2 probably means .
A. 虚拟的 B. 友好的 C. 漂亮的 D. 忙碌的
5.What can be the best title for the text?
A. The Seeing Machines
B. The Listening Machines
C. The Intelligent Machines
D. The Translating Machines
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Scientists are trying to make the deserts into good land again． They want to bring water to the deserts， so people can live and grow food． They are learning a lot about the deserts． But more and more of the earth is becoming desert all the time． Scientists may not be able to change the desert in time．
Why is more and more land becoming desert？ Scientists think that people make deserts． People are doing bad things to the earth．
Some places on the earth don't get much rain． But they still don't become deserts． This is because some green plants are growing there． Small green plants and grass are very important to dry places． Plants don't let the sun make the earth even drier． Plants do not let the wind blow the dirt away． When a bit of rain falls， the plants hold the water． Without plants， the land can become desert more easily．
1. Deserts ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．
A． never have any plants or animals in them
B． can all be turned into good land before long
C． are becoming smaller and smaller D． get very little rain
2. Small green plants are very important to dry places because ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ ．
A． they don't let the sun make the earth even drier
B． they don't let the wind blow the soil away
C． they hold water D． All of the above．
3. Land is becoming desert little by little because ＿＿＿＿＿＿．
A． plants can't grow there B． there is not enough rain
C． people haven't done what scientists wish them to do
D． scientists know little about the deserts
4. Which is the main idea of the first paragraph？
A． Scientists know how to change desert into good land．
B． Land is becoming desert faster than scientists can change it back into good land．
C． If scientists can bring water to desert， people can live and grow food there．
D． More and more places are becoming deserts all the time．
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People are compassionate. With effort, we can translate compassion into action. An experience last weekend showed me this is true. I work part-time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly. These old people are our main customers, and it’s not hard to lose patience over their slowness. But last Sunday, one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson. This untidy man walked up to my register (收款机) with a box of biscuits. He said he was out of cash, had just moved into his room, and had nothing in his cupboards. He asked if we could let him have the food on trust. He promised to repay me the next day.
I couldn’t help staring at him. I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before, and what he would be like if luck had gone his way. I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul, all alone in the world. I told him that I was sorry, but store rules didn’t allow me to do so. I felt stupid and unkind saying this, but I valued my job.
Just then, another man, standing behind the first, spoke up. If anything, he looked more pitiable. “Charge it to me,” was all he said.
What I had been feeling was pity. Pity is soft and safe and easy. Compassion, on the other hand, is caring in action. I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed either. Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself. I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion.
1.The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits _______.
A. promised to obey the store rules
B. forgot to take any money with him
C. hoped to have the food first and pay later
D. could not afford anything more expensive
2.Which of the following best describes the old gentleman?
A. kind and lucky B. friendly and helpful
C. poor and lonely D. hurt and disappointed
3.The writer acted upon the store rules because _______.
A. he expected someone else to pay for the old man
B. he felt no pity for the old gentleman
C. he considered the old man dishonest
D. he wanted to keep his present job
4.What does the writer learn from his experience?
A. Wealth is more important than anything else.
B. Obeying the rules means more than compassion.
C. Experience is better gained through practice.
D. Helping others is easier said than done.
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Scientists are using robots to study the health of waters in and around Venice，Italy．The robots are designed to act like fish，other underwater creatures and plants．The scientists are working with several universities and research centers as part of a group called subCULTron．The European Union gives money to the project as part of its Horizon 2020 program whose aim is to take great ideas from the lab to the market and support science and innovation(创新)in Europe．The scientists want to use the artificial intelligence of the robots to help humans understand what is happening under the water of the Venice lagoon(潟湖)．
SubCULTron．a collective artificial intelligence project，plans to create the biggest shoal (鱼群)of robot fish in the world．The project’s aim is to improve knowledge of the seabed and try to turn human abilities into hi-tech items．
Alexandre Campo，a computer scientist，says the scientists have looked at the way animals learn to work in groups to understand how robots can learn to work together．The subCULTron project wants its robots to learn to work together so they can watch out for changes and new problems in the water．
One problem the researchers had in the beginning was how the robots would communicate with each other. Wi-Fi and GPS equipment don’t work underwater．Instead，the robots can use sonar(声呐)and an electric field．
Another problem was charging batteries．The robots come up to the water’s surface and stay near a boat or a power station to charge without any electrical cables．Besides，how to be waterproof, especially for some key pads of the robots，was really tough．Fortunately, a special mixture has been created to be pinned on the robot，which successfully stands the test of water．
The health state of the lagoon is pretty good．There are no industrial polluters，and the city now has a modern sewer(污水管) system．It’s not like before when all the waste flushed directly into the water．The robots in Venice will continue their work until 2019. The subCULTron project hopes they develop into “an artificial society underneath the water surface” that serves “a human society above the water”．
1.What can we learn about the project in Paragraph l?
A. Its researchers are all from universities．
B. The European Union has financially supported it．
C. It uses robots to clean the waters in and around Venice．
D. It is aimed to support science and innovation worldwide．
2.What can we infer according to Alexandre Campo?
A. Scientists have got an idea for robots from the animals．
B. The robots are working separately to perform their tasks．
C. SubCULTron is to turn human abilities into hi-tech items．
D. The health state of the lagoon has greatly improved recently．
3.The underlined word “they” in the last paragraph probably refers to“__________”．
A. scientists B. animals
C. robots D. humans
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Teenagers_____social experience, so they are easily ___ when they step into society.
A. lack; taken up B. lacking in; taken in
C. a lack of; taken up D. lack; taken in
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Have you heard of snake robots? Scientists and doctors are already using tiny snakes that coil through the human body armed with sharp surgical tools to perform operations on hearts, prostate cancer, and other diseased organs. The snake robots that carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps, and even more advanced sensors are being developed.
The next generation of the robots will be wireless, and will explore inside your body on their own--- not attached to any cables. For now, they are powered by cables that humans control. Experts say the day is coming when some robots will roam around the body on their own. But the experts in robotics say the new creations work best when they are designed for very specific tasks.
Howie Choset has been researching and building robots, particularly snake robots. He believes that his snake robot and others like it can help reduce medical costs by making complex surgery faster and easier. Choset says his new design is smaller and more flexible than earlier models.
The size of surgical robots allows surgeons to operate with far less damage to the body, helping the patient heal faster. Choset has also built larger snake robots designed for search and rescue, or just exploration. They can climb poles and trees and then look around through a camera in the head and slither through places that humans cannot reach.
“ We sent our snake robots into these caves in the Red Sea to look for evidence of ancient Egyptian ships,” he said. “ To me, archeology is like search and rescue, but everyone has been dead for 5,000 years.”
The doctors are very excited about the potential for surgical robots to do things that humans can’t do. The variety of sensors available for surgical robots keeps expanding. As they get smaller, maybe one day they will be able to test chemicals or blood in the body, or even the electrical connections in nerves.
1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A．The doctors carry out surgery using snake robots mainly for heart disease.
B．The doctors are very satisfied with the new snake robots during surgery.
C．Snake robots are completely free of human control today.
D．Other supplementary appliances will be added to snake robots.
2.Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
A．Snake robots are only used in the medical field.
B．Snake robots can reduce the patients’ medical costs.
C．Scientists are uncertain about the prospects for snake robots.
D．Scientists are forced to spend a lot of time researching snake robots.
3.How can snake robots work best, according to the passage?
A．When they carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps.
B．When they are operated by experienced doctors.
C．When they are given a wireless function.
D．When they are designed for particular tasks.
4.Why do we know about Howie Choset, according to the passage?
A．He thought snake robots of different sizes can be used for different types of surgery.
B．He thought patients’ pain had been slightly reduced with the help of snake robots.
C．He also made snake robots for search, rescue and exploration.
D．He is very interested in researching ancient Egyptian ships.
5.The writers attitude towards the new technology is ______.
A．optimistic B．doubtful C．objective D．negative
__4.___process for reducing spiders’ silk _5.___about one twentieth of its normal diameter.