Scientists are using robots to study the heal...

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

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists are attempting to extract (提取) cells from a 40,000-year-old horse in hope of using the sample to clone the extinct (灭绝的) species back into existence. The male baby horse was discovered in 2018 in permafrost (永冻土) in northeastern Siberia of Russia.

A team of scientists from South Korea and Russia believes the young horse, called the Lenskaya or Lena horse, was about 20 days old when it died. The species of horse, now extinct, is between 30,000 and 40,000 years old. Thanks to the terrible coldness, the animal’s tissue was preserved enough for the scientists to obtain samples.

Semyon Grigoriev, head of the lab at the Mammoth (猛犸象) Museum of the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, said the horse was “well - preserved” and a “great find”. There is no damage to the horse’s body and even its hair is undamaged. The unfortunate animal, according to Gngo-riev, “could have drowned after falling into some kind of a natural trap.”

Hwang Woo-suk, a researcher from South Korea working on the project, said, “If researchers find a cell, they will do their best to clone the animal. If we get live cells from this ancient baby horse, it would be wonderful in terms of cloning.”

After that, they will make a cloned embryo (胚胎) and a female horse carry it as its mother. Hwang said modern-day horses are “very similar to the ancient one,” so there would be no problem getting help from a modern-day female horse.

The scientists are hoping the experiment on the baby horse will give them experience in progressing toward their ambitious goal-bringing back the extinct woolly mammoth.

“If we manage to clone the horse-it will be the first step to cloning the mammoth.” Hwang said.

1.Why was the Lenskaya horse kept in good condition?

A.The temperatures were extremely low. B.It was buried under the ground.

C.Alocal museum had preserved it. D.It died quite young.

2.What do we know about the baby horse?

A.It was a female horse. B.It might have died by accident.

C.Its hair was partly destroyed. D.Its tissue can hardly be found.

3.What must the researchers do before cloning the extinct horse?

A.Know more about extinct ancient horses. B.Make an embryo i a female horse.

C.Find an ideal modern - day female horse. D.Get live cells from the baby horse.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A.A new horse species found in Siberia B.How to preserve ancient animals’ tissues

C.Scientists attempt to clone extinct horse D.How to extract cells from extinct species

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

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

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In class, fewer of the students who are not ___ their studies sometimes ____the dying robots,not listening attentively.

A. accustomed to ; are functioned as          B. accurate in; function

C. sceptical of; are functioned               D. addicted to; function as

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Scientists used to explore探测on the surface of the ocean. Now they are exploring below the surface, too. They want to know about ocean water and the plant and animal life deep in the ocean.

In 1934 the scientist William Beebe dived 3 000 feet below the surface in a hollow steel ball. In 1935 August Piccard dived 10330 feet. In 1960 his son Jean dived to a depth of 35 800 feet. All these early dives were deep. But the divers could not stay down for very long. They had to come back up to the surface after a few seconds. Scientists needed to stay down longer to study life below surface. Gradually they succeeded. Cousteau, a Frenchman, was able to keep men down to a depth of 90 feet for a week.

Now scientists are developing even better equipment. With this new equipment，men can stay below the surface for days or even weeks. In 1962 Cousteau set up a research station 35 feet below the surface. Then，in 1964，he set up another station on the ocean floor of the Red Sea. This was the first undersea station to operate without help from the surface.

Many countries are now studying undersea living. The former Soviet Union has an undersea laboratory in the Crimean Sea. The United States has a laboratory 50 feet down on the ocean floor off the Virgin Islands. In 1970 five men lived there for two weeks. Then a team of five women scientists stayed in the laboratory. Next came other teams of men. All were there to explore the ocean depths and to make plans for the use of its resources. Scientists hope to find enough mineral，vegetable，and animal wealth there to provide food for the entire world.

1.In order to______ ，scientists are exploring below the surface of the ocean.

A. know about the ocean water deep in the ocean

B. stay down longer to study life of the plant and animal below the surface

C. know about the plant and animal life deep in the ocean

D. both A and C

2.Who made the deepest dive______

A. William Beebe.

B. August Piccard.

C. Jean Piccard.

D. Cousteau.

3.Which of the following statements is true____

A. The early divers could not stay down for very long.

B. Up to now only five women scientists have stayed in the undersea laboratory.

C. The purpose of setting up the undersea laboratories is to make plans for the use of the resources in the ocean.

D. None of the above is true.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For the sake of enough time for study and rest, students are _____ from using cellphones in our school.

A. encourged　         B. forbidden         C.required　             D. kept

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

阅读理解。

Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans.Alan Beck,an expert in human-animal relationship,and Nancy Edwards,a professor of nursing,are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression,physical activity,and life satisfaction.“No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active,challenged,or stimulated(刺激),” Edwards points out.“The problem is how we promote that,especially for those without friends or help.A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study,the robot,called AIBO,is placed for six weeks in the homes of some old people who live alone.Before placing AIBO in the home,researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks.These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO.Then,the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to him all the time,and he responds to my voice,”says a seventy-year-old lady.“When I’m watching TV,he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down.He has a mind of his own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders.The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs,especially for old people.Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it.A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning,it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says.“But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully,down the road,these robotic pets could become more valuable health helpers.They will record their masters’ blood pressure,oxygen levels,or heart rhythms.AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”

1.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to 　　 .

A.understand human-animal relationship

B.find the causes of old people’s loneliness

C.make lonely old people’s life better

D.promote the animal-assisted research

2.In the research,the old people are asked to 　　 .

A.note the activities of AIBOs

B.keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C.analyze the collected information

D.record their feelings and activities

3.What is the advantage of AIBOs over live dogs?

A.They can watch TV with their owners.

B.They can help the disabled people.

C.They respond to all the human orders.

D.They are easier to keep at home.

4.The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may 　　 .

A.keep old people active

B.cure certain diseases

C.change people’s beliefs

D.look more like real dogs

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A scientist who developed a way to calculate how much water is used in the production of anything from a cup of coffee to a hamburger was awarded the 2008 Stockholm.Water Prize.

Professor John Anthony Allan of the University of London in Britain won the award for introducing the idea of “virtual water（虚拟水）”,a calculation method that has changed the nature of trade policy and research.

Allan has written seven books and published more than 100 papers.

The Stockholm International Water Institute said this idea is now embedded（埋藏）in the production of foods and industrial products.The institute said Allan's work had made a big effect on global trade policy and research, especially in water-scarce（缺水的）regions.

“The improved understanding of trade and water management issues on local,regional and global scales are of the highest value for the successful and sustainable（可持续的）use of water resources,”it said.

“People do not only use water when they drink it or take a shower,”the institute said.“Behind the morning cup of coffee,there are 140 liters of water that was used to grow,produce,package and ship the beans.”That is about as much water as a person in England uses on average for all daily drinking and household needs.

"For a single hamburger,about 2,400 liters of water are needed.In the USA,the average person uses nearly 7,000 liters of virtual water every day."It said that was more than three times the average use of a Chinese person.

1.Allan was awarded the prize because______.

A. he wrote seven books on trade policy

B. he published more than 100 papers on water management

C. lie found a new kind of water in water-scarce areas

D. he came up with the idea of virtual water

2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The average American uses about 7,000 liters of water a day.

B. The average Chinese uses nearly 2,300 liters of virtual water a day.

C. An Englishman usually drinks about 140 liters of coffee a day.

D. A hamburger usually contains about 2,400 liters of water.

3.What do we learn about John Anthony Allan from the passage?　　　　　　　　 .

A. He won the 2008 Nobel Prize.

B. He has written over 100 books.

C. He works at the University of London.

D. He lives in the USA.

4.What effect does the idea of virtual water have?

A. It helps us realize the importance of trade.

B. It helps people do successful business.

C. It helps us make use of water scientifically.

D. It tells us how much water we use a day.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

A scientist who developed a way to calculate how much water is used in the production of anything from a cup of coffee to a hamburger was awarded the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize.

Professor John Anthony Allan of the University of London in Britain won the award for introducing the idea of “virtual water (虚拟水)”, a calculation method that has changed the nature of trade policy and research.

Allan has written seven books and published more than 100 papers.

The Stockholm International Water Institute said this idea is now embedded (埋藏) in the production of foods and industrial products. The institute said Allan’s work had made a big effect on global trade policy and research, especially in water-scarce (缺水的) regions.

“The improved understanding of trade and water management issues on local, regional and global scales are of the highest value for the successful and sustainable (可持续的) use of water resources,” it said.

“People do not only use water when they drink it or take a shower,” the institute said. “Behind the morning cup of coffee, there are 140 liters of water that was used to grow, produce, package and ship the beans.” That is about as much water as a person in England uses on average for all daily drinking and household needs.

“For a single hamburger, about 2,400 liters of water are needed. In the USA, the average person uses nearly 7,000 liters of virtual water every day.” It said that was more than three times the average use of a Chinese person.

1.Allan was awarded the prize because _______.

A. he wrote seven books on trade policy

B. he published more than 100 papers on water management

C. he found a new kind of water in water-scarce areas

D. he came up with the idea of virtual water

2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The average American uses about 7,000 liters of water a day.

B. The average Chinese uses nearly 2,300 liters of virtual water a day.

C. An Englishman usually drinks about 140 liters of coffee a day.

D. A hamburger usually contains about 2,400 liters of water.

3.What do we learn about John Anthony Allan from the passage?

A. He won the 2008 Nobel Prize.        B. He has written over 100 books.

C. He works at the University of London.        D. He lives in the USA.

4.What effect does the idea of virtual water have?

A. It helps us realize the importance of trade.

B. It helps people do successful business.

C. It helps us make use of water scientifically.

D. It tells us how much water we use a day.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Researchers are placing robotic dogs (机器狗) in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激),” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote (使……成为现实) that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry, ” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds. ”

1.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to __________.

A. understand human-animal relationship

B. make lonely old people’s life better

C. find the causes of old people’s loneliness

D. promote the animal-assisted research

2.In the research, the old people are asked to ____________.

A. note the activities of AIBOs

B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C. record their feelings and activity.

D. analyze the collected information

3.What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

A. It is easier to keep at home.

B. It can help the disabled people.

C. It responds to all the human orders.

D. It can watch TV with its owner.

4.The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may _____________.

A. cure certain diseases

B. keep old people active

C. change people’s beliefs

D. look more like real dogs

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析