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Changing Bit by Bit
A new contest challenges people to use micro:bit computers to solve problems.
Could you use your computing skills to aid the fight against illegal animal hunting? How about tackling ocean pollution or monitoring animals under threat of extinction?
A new global challenge called Do Your Bit aims to get young people using their computing creativity to solve real-world problems. It’s being run by a partnership involving the BBC’s micro:bit computer, the technology company ARM and a campaign called World’s Largest Lesson, and it's aimed at people aged 10 to 16. It kicks off on 16 September.
The contest in 2019 is based on two Global Goals: to protect life on land and under the water. To take part, young people first choose a problem that affects them and their community, then design something involving the micro:bit computer that could help to tackle that problem.
Participants need to write up to 500 words about the problem and their solution, as well as providing a photo of their drawn plans or a hex file of their prototype code (编码), plus any other photos and videos showing what they’ve done.
This is the second micro:bit Global Challenge to be held. In 2018, the contest's winning designs included a homemade thief alarm, a classroom health monitor, a food-waste watcher and a device to remind people to sit up straight.
The deadline for entering the challenge is 28 February 2020: the winners will be announced the following month.
1.The main purpose of BBC’s involvement is to _______.
A.report for this contest
B.call for ocean protection
C.introduce the Global Goals
D.promote micro:bit computers
2.The Do Your Bit in 2019 is based on the theme of________.
A.getting rid of hunger
B.providing clean water
C.taking care of children
D.protecting life on the earth
3.To take part in the contest, contestants need ______.
A.buy micro:bit computers
B.sign up for it before 16 September 2020
C.choose a real problem and offer solutions
D.prepare photos and videos of group members
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B
It is common and usual to see people freak out when they face challenges in their life. We all pass in different life problems and challenges. No one is free of life problems. Only a dead man faces no problem. As long as you are alive, challenges are everywhere.
How do you face problems and challenges in your life? Problems and challenges are the building blocks of your personality. They make you who you are. Besides, whether what happened in your life builds or destructs you depends on how you look at it. If you take your problems as troubles, they will be troubles and may cause destruction. If you take them as constructive tools, you are going to be built up on them.
Problems are everywhere. No one can avoid them. And they are good too. They open up a different look and opportunity if you are willing to see. When you face troubles, do not frustrate or freak out. Just cool yourself to think in a different direction. Think in a positive way. Every problem has its own good as well as bad sides. Focus on the good one. Look at the bright side.
Besides, there is always a good person, perhaps your mom or dad, or one of your friends, right beside you, who can turn everything into your best if you are willing to turn to them. No matter what happens, they will be there to help you. Trust them and they will never let you down. All you need to know is that you are loved wherever you are.
1.What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “freak out” in Paragraph 1?
A. feel shy. B. stay calm.
C. keep silent. D. feel upset.
2.In Paragraph 2, the writer implies(暗指) that ______.
A. problems cause troubles
B. attitude is everything
C. challenges can be avoided
D. personalities are built on failures
3. What’s the writer’s purpose to write the passage?
A. To encourage. B. To compare.
C.To prove. D. To explain.
4.What can be the best title of the passage?
A. How to Avoid Problems
B. Challenges Are Everywhere
C. Face Your Challenges Bravely
D. You Are Loved Wherever You Are
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. ______ understanding the challenges faced by the world’s poorest people can we expect a new future
free of extreme poverty and hunger.
A. On B. Through C. Only D. Only by
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______ understanding the challenges faced by the world’s poorest people can we expect a new future
free of extreme poverty and hunger.
A. On B. Through C. Only D. Only by
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Ants keep traffic flowing by changing their behavior to meet changing conditions, according to new research.
For their experiment, researchers from the University of Toulouse and the University of Arizona focused on Argentine ants, which are only 2-3 millimeters long and frequently move from colony (栖息地) to colony depending on how far food is. Tapping into the ants' talent for fast commutes (通勤), the researchers constructed bridges between their colonies. The bridges varied in width from a fifth to three-quarters of an inch.
Then the researchers sat back and monitored the traffic. To their surprise, even when those narrower bridges were nearly overloaded, there were no 20-ant pile-ups. And traffic remained steady regardless of how crowed the bridges were because ants could adjust to the flow of road conditions.
"When crowding on the path increased, ants assessed it locally and adjusted their speed accordingly to avoid any interruption of traffic flow," the researchers said. "Moreover, ants avoided entering a crowded path and made sure the bridge was never overloaded."
The lesson for humans? The traffic problem mostly lies in our loss of the quality that the ants have. You've probably noticed it on your own commute to work. Driving is fun when there're few cars on the road-a lane-change (车道变换)here, a little acceleration there. Then traffic slows down. But some impatient drivers still constantly move between lanes.
"Traffic jams are common in human society where some people are focusing on their own personal objectives," the researchers said. "In contrast, ants share a common goal: the survival of the colony, thus they're expected to act cooperatively to get food."
The research also suggests that the ever-widening of highways may never free us from traffic jams. As long as we drive along with our own agendas, no matter how many other people are on the road, we'll always end up in a traffic jam. Indeed, less space may be a good thing. It leaves less room for personal choices and forces us to take a page from the driving handbook of ants.
1.What did the researchers do to the ants in the experiment?
A.They fed them with much delicious food.
B.They trained them to avoid heavy traffic.
C.They built bridges linking their colonies.
D.They improved their colonies constantly.
2.How did the ants behave during the experiment?
A.They worked together to remove the road blocks.
B.They sped up to get out of the traffic jam quickly. .
C.They made their way carefully in the given direction.
D.They adjusted themselves for the flow of the traffic.
3.What is the biggest cause of the traffic jam in human society?
A.Poor road const ruction. B.People's inability to adjust.
C.People's selfish driving. D.Too many vehicles on roads.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.What ants help us do for driving safety.
B.What ants can teach us about traffic jams.
C.Why ants drive much better than humans.
D.Why ants are best at handling traffic jams.
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C
Thirteen can be a challenging age. Not only did I have to adapt to my changing body, I also had to deal with my parents’ bitter divorce, a new family and the upsetting move from my country home to a crowded town.
When we moved, my beloved companion, a small brown pony had to be sold. I was heartbroken and terribly lonely. I couldn’t eat or sleep and cried all the time. Finally, realizing how much I missed my pony, my father bought me another horse, Cowboy.
Cowboy was without doubt the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn’t care. I loved him beyond all reasons.
I joined a riding club. When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse was judged by appearance, we were quickly ”shown the gate”. I knew nothing could turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the timed speed events. I chose the jumping race.
For the whole next month we practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home, totally exhausted.
All of our hard work didn’t make me feel confident by the time the show came. One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons. I sat at the gate and sweated all out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the court and finish in first place.
My turn finally came. At the signal, we dashed toward the first fence, jumped over it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him toward the finish line.
No cheers filled the air. The end of our run was met with surprised silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds.
I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the odds, I’d always come out a winner if I wanted something badly enough to work for it. I can be the owner of my fate.
1.Why did the author like Cowboy so much in spite of its ugliness?
A. Because she loved horses more than anything else.
B. Because Cowboy was a strong and smart young horse.
C. Because Cowboy had a lot in common with her pony.
D. Because she was sad and lonely and needed a companion.
2.The audience fell into silence at the end of the run probably because_________.
A. they didn’t expect Cowboy would win the event
B. they were unhappy that Becky was beaten in the event
C. they didn’t like cowboy, for it was too ugly
D. they never saw a horse running as fast as Cowboy
3.After the competition, the author came to realize that _______.
A. she ought to gather the courage to solve all the problems
B. it was time to forget her pony and treat Cowboy better
C. she needed to work harder to win more blue ribbons
D. she could be the god of her own fate if she tried hard enough
4.It can be inferred from the story that _________.
A. all of their hard training was totally in vain
B. a blue ribbon must be the second highest prize
C. Cowboy lost in the event of being judged by appearance
D. both Becky and the author won in the jumping event
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Thirteen can be a challenging age. Not only did I have to adapt to my changing body, I also had to deal with my parents’ bitter divorce, a new family and the upsetting move from my country home to a crowded town.
When we moved, my beloved companion, a small brown pony had to be sold. I was heartbroken and terribly lonely. I couldn’t eat or sleep and cried all the time. Finally, realizing how much I missed my pony, my father bought me another horse, Cowboy.
Cowboy was without doubt the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn’t care. I loved him beyond all reason.
I joined a riding club. When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse was judged by appearance, we were quickly “shown the gate”. I knew nothing could turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the timed speed events. I chose the jumping race.
For the whole next month we practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home, totally exhausted.
All of our hard work didn’t make me feel confident by the time the show came. One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons. I sat at the gate and sweated all out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the court and finish in first place.
My turn finally came. At the signal, we dashed toward the first fence, jumped over it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him toward the finish line.
No cheers filled the air. The end of our run was met with surprised silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds.
I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the odds are, I’d always come out a winner if I wanted something badly enough to work for it. I can be the owner of my fate.
1.Why did the author like Cowboy so much in spite of its ugliness?
A. Because she loved horses more than anything else.
B. Because Cowboy was a strong and smart young horse.
C. Because Cowboy had a lot in common with her pony.
D. Because she was sad and lonely and needed a companion.
2.The audience fell into silence at the end of the run probably because .
A. they didn’t expect Cowboy would win the event
B. they were unhappy that Becky was beaten in the event
C. they didn’t like cowboy, for it was too ugly
D. they never saw a horse running as fast as Cowboy
3.After the competition, the author came to realize that .
A. she ought to gather the courage to solve all the problems
B. it was time to forget her pony and treat Cowboy better
C. she needed to work harder to win more blue ribbons
D. she could be the god of her own fate if she tried hard enough
4.It can be inferred from the story that .
A. all of their hard training was totally in vain
B. a blue ribbon must be the second highest prize
C. Cowboy lost in the event of being judged by appearance
D. both Becky and the author won in the jumping event
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A new phone app uses shaking from smartphones to warn people about earthquakes. The new app is called MyShake, which is the work of four researchers at the University of California. Berkeley.
Smartphones are equipped with accelerometers(加速器). MyShake uses phone accelerometers to measure seismic (地震的) activity. It has been programmed to know the difference between normal activity and earthquake movement. The software developers say their app is right 93 percent of the time. A smartphone sends seismic information to the app developers. If the developers receive several warnings from one area, it recognizes that an earthquake may be taking place or will take place soon. Using information sent from the app, the network then judges the location and strength of the quake in real time. MyShake can record 5.0 earthquake at distances of 10 kilometers or less.
MyShake uses very little power, according to its developers. Only when seismic activity is sensed by the app does it become active and sends data to the network. The app works best when your phone is resting on a flat surface, like a table.
The developers hope that MyShake can add to information collected by the U.S Geological Survey. That U.S agency has created the Earthquake Early Warning System, also known as the EEW. The EEW has used sensors for measuring quakes in many areas. In places where no such equipment exists, MyShake may be the only method of early quake detection (发现). The app also shows ways to stay safer during an earthquake. The developers say it will become more effective as more people use it.
The developers say they hope to add a feature that will warn people about possible tsunami after an earthquake.
1.The new app
A. is a kind of accelerometer.
B. feels earthquakes through smartphones.
C. is developed by the U.S Geological Survey.
D. predicts possible tsunami after an earthquake.
2.What is the second paragraph mainly talking about?
A. How MyShake works.
B. What seismic activity is.
C. Why MyShake is developed.
D. When accelerometers record earthquake.
3.We can infer that MyShake
A. docs not work when the spartphone is in the pocket
B. sleeps while there is no shaking of the earth’s surface.
C. guides people how to survive when many people use it at the same time.
D. recognizes an earthquake when it receive the information from other sensors.
4.The new app developers hope to
A. use the information by the U.S Geological Survey to better MyShake.
B. unite the U.S Geological Survey to combine the EEW and MyShake.
C. help the EEW detect earthquakes somewhere.
D. improve the EEW.
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A new phone app uses vibrations from smart phones to warn people about earthquakes.
The phone app _______ sudden shaking of the earth’s surface through sensors in smart phones. It is called MyShake. It is the work of four researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. They said they created a worldwide warning system that would _______ people and give them time to prepare. The MyShake app is _______ only for Android phones.
Smart phones are _______ accelerometers (加速度感应器). These instruments measure movement, like that of a car or airplane. MyShake uses phone accelerometers to measure seismic (地震的) activity. It has been _______ to know the difference between normal activity and earthquake movement. The software developers say their app is right 93 percent of the time.
A smart phone sends seismic information to the app developers. If the developers receive several notifications _______, it recognizes that an earthquake might be taking place or will take place soon.
Using information sent from the app, the network then _______ the location and strength of the quake in real time. MyShake can record magnitude 5.0 earthquakes at distances of 10 kilometers or less.
MyShake uses very _______ power, according to its developers. Only when seismic activity is _______ by the app does it become active and sends data to the network. The app works best when your phone is resting on a ________ surface, like a table.
The developers hope that MyShake can add to information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey. That U.S. agency has created the Earthquake Early Warning System, also ________ EEW. The EEW has deployed (部署) sensors for measuring quakes in many areas.
In places where no such equipment ________, MyShake may be the only method of early quake ________. The app also shows ways to stay safer during an earthquake. The developers say it will become more effective as more people use it.
“Our goal is to build a worldwide seismic network and use the data to________ the effects of earthquakes on us as individuals and on society as a whole,” say the researchers.
The developers say they hope to add a feature that would ________ people about a possible tsunami: a huge wave after an earthquake.
1.A.reports B.recognizes C.reveals D.reviews
2.A.infer B.include C.influence D.inform
3.A.acquired B.available C.affordable D.approachable
4.A.equipped with B.made up of C.filled with D.in need of
5.A.programmed B.protected C.prohibited D.promised
6.A.from different places B.from one area C.from the same phone D.from another developer
7.A.controls B.connects C.estimates D.receives
8.A.much B.little C.excessive D.green
9.A.activated B.sensed C.resisted D.issued
10.A.low B.wooden C.high D.flat
11.A.honored with B.called for C.known as D.defined as
12.A.exists B.forms C.counts D.exploits
13.A.protection B.diagnosis C.detection D.resistance
14.A.raise B.receive C.record D.reduce
15.A.confirm B.appoint C.alert D.acknowledge
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The new trend of living a low carbon life is gradually changing people's idea on ______is cool and in fashion.
A. which B. that C. what D. whose