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1、In a world where nearly 6 million fingerprint records of government employees are stolen in one computer hack, and where millions of people are victims of identity theft every year, the next step in cyber-security may well be mapping your brain.
Researchers at Binghamton University are working on a biometric (生物特征的) system that records how your brain reacts to certain images. With a little more polishing, the scientists' brainchild could become the way you get into a safe deposit box, your office or past scanners at the airport. It could replace the password for your online banking, your e-mail or your social media accounts.
They started their project by measuring the brain waves of 30 subjects. The subjects were fitted with a cap that had 30 electrodes attached to it, and then shown various images and symbols — celebrity faces, words, pictures of food — on a computer screen in 200-millisecond bursts. The brain's reaction was recorded.
The idea is that every time a person needs to use a "password", he or she goes through the same procedure, and the results are matched to their first-time reaction. If the "brainprint" is cracked — like what happened to the fingerprint records — then the system is merely reset by running another set of images and collecting a different set of brain waves."Even if that was stolen, you could just cancel it and record one to something else", says professor Laszlo.
Laszlo and her team have shown that their system can be 100 per cent accurate. So one of the most difficult parts of making the system practical already has been overcome. Now, they're spending much time recording accurate brainprints with as few as three electrodes, which could make recording in the future as easy as wearing a pair of special glasses. They're also working with cheaper materials and different methods to see if they can bring the cost down.
(1)、What does the underlined word "brainchild" in Paragraph 2 refer to?A、The brain function. B、The biometric system. C、The fingerprint record. D、The online password.(2)、Why were the images and symbols shown to the subjects?A、To match brainprints with pictures. B、To check the brain's reaction. C、To create their brainprints. D、To connect brain waves to electrodes.(3)、What will happen when a brainprint fails?A、A new one will be set again. B、A spare one will be ready beforehand. C、The users' security will be threatened. D、The fingerprint record will replace it.(4)、What are the researchers doing with the programme now?A、Improving its accuracy. B、Making it user-friendly. C、Recording more brainprints. D、Increasing the number of electrodes. -
2、With artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology improving at impressive rates, there are some who worry that there's a risk of artistic and creative people being replaced. A new study by the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology, however, is showing exactly why that can't and shouldn't happen. It all started when the South Korean company posed this question: Can robots replace conductors?
Over a year ago, work to develop automaton (自动化) began. At first, it was designed like a machine, and didn't live up to expectations. Then the company sought ways to improve it. In the end, it was given two arms with joints to copy wrists and elbows, allowing it to move a stick similarly to how a human conductor would move it. It was named the EverR 6 robot, and stands at 1.8 meters. It was finally time to figure out how it could follow through on its musical role.
"We got involved in this project to see how far robots can go in more creative fields like the arts, and what the challenges are," Dong-wook Lee, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology said.
In order to pull this off, Dong-wook Lee cooperated with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. The 12-minute piece they planned to perform, "Feel" by Il-hoon Son, was created specifically for this event. It was created with the strengths of both EverR 6 and the human conductor, Soo-yeol Choi, in mind.
To pull off this impressive performance, the robot was preprogrammed to conduct through 30 cycles of beat patterns. Meanwhile, it was up to the human conductor to lead the orchestra in creating an improvisational (即兴的) score, adding depth to the otherwise planned piece.
Together, they pulled off a masterful performance that the audience seemed more than happy to have had the opportunity to witness it firsthand!
With the concert having gone so well, this is only the start of EverR 6. Still, no matter the improvements they're able to make to this Android robot, the human conductor isn't concerned about being replaced.
"Let's leave the accuracy to the robots," Soo-yeol Choi said, "but the musical and artistic aspects to a human conductor."
(1)、What is paragraph 2 mainly about?A、The function of the EverR 6 robot. B、The development of the EverR 6 robot. C、The EverR 6 robot's role as a conductor. D、The difficulty in designing the EverR 6 robot.(2)、What can be learned about "Feel"?A、It is a piece familiar to the audience. B、It is a piece showing the human-robot cooperation. C、It is the only piece that EverR 6 will perform. D、It is a piece requiring great ability to conduct.(3)、What role did Soo-yeol Choi play in the performance?A、He corrected the robot's mistakes. B、He programmed the EverR 6 robot. C、He led the improvisational section of the performance. D、He was the main conductor of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra.(4)、What is Soo-yeol Choi's attitude towards EverR 6?A、Unclear. B、Uncaring. C、Supportive. D、Doubtful. -
3、I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I have as a child deal with books. There was not one night that I don't remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the elegant way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say, "I can't believe what's printed in the newspaper this morning," made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her, I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said, "The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf," I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A's on my tests. Occasionally, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn't enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Yet, now that I'm growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex, I find myself needing away to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don't have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We're taught to read because it's necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is a vital part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I've found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
(1)、Why did the author want to grab the newspaper out of mom's hands?A、She wanted mom to read the news to her. B、She was anxious to know what had happened. C、She couldn't wait to tear the newspaper apart. D、She couldn't help but stop mom from reading.(2)、According to Paragraph 3, what did the author's reading of road signs indicate?A、Her unique way to locate herself. B、Her eagerness to develop her reading ability. C、Her effort to remind mom to obey traffic rules. D、Her growing desire to know the world around her.(3)、What was the author's view on factual reading?A、It would help her update test-taking skills. B、It would allow much room for free thinking. C、It would provide true and objective information. D、It would help shape a realistic and serious attitude to life.(4)、What could be the best title for the passage?A、The Magic of Reading B、The Pleasure of Reading C、Growing Up with Reading D、Reading Makes a Full Man -
4、Journey Back in Time with Scholars
Classical Provence(13days)
Journey through the beautiful countryside of Provence,France,with Prof. Ori Z. Soltes. We will visit some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. Our tour also includes a chance to walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Gauguin. Fields of flowers, tile-roofed(瓦屋顶)villages and tasty meals enrich this wonderful experience.
Southern Spain(15days)
Spain has lovely white towns and the scent(芳香)of oranges,but it is also a treasury of ancient remains including the cities left by the Greeks,Romans and Arabs. As we travel south from Madrid with Prof. Ronald Messier to historic Toledo,Roman Merida and into Andalucia, we explore historical monuments and architecture.
China's Sacred Landscapes(21days)
Discover the China of "past ages," its walled cities,temples and mountain scenery with Prof. Robert Thorp. Highlights(精彩之处)include China's most sacred peaks at Mount Tai and Hangzbou's rolling hills,waterways and peaceful temples. We will wander in traditional small towns and end our tour with an exceptional museum in Shanghai.
Tunisia(17days)
Join Prof. Pedar Foss on our in-depth Tunisian tour. Tour highlights include the Roman city of Dougga,the underground Numidian capital at Bulla Regia, Roman Sbeitla and the remote areas around Tataouine and Matmata,uique for underground cities. Our journey takes us to picturesque Berber villages and lovely beaches.
(1)、What can visitors see in both Classical Provence and Southern Spain?A、Historical monuments. B、Fields of flowers. C、Van Gogh's paintings. D、Greek buildings.(2)、Which country is Prof. Thorp most knowledgeable about?A、France. B、Spain. C、China. D、Tunisia.(3)、Which of the following highlight the Tunisian tour?A、White towns. B、Underground cities. C、Tile-roofed villages. D、Rolling hills. -
5、在方框内选择合适的词汇填空,使短文连贯。选项中有一项为多余选项。
A. lanes B. charged C. dramatically D. mostly E. estimated F. powered
G. connectivity H. boundary I. dependent J. advocates K. invasion
E-Scooters
Over the past two years, electric scooters have become ever-present in many of Europe and America's biggest cities. Britain is the last major western European country to hold out against the . E-scooters are not allowed on public roads, though people do ride them on cycle and pavements. But where they are permitted, the number of e-scooter sharing companies soars . To their , e-scooters are revolutionary: the "iPhone Of urban transport". To their critics (批评者), they are dangerous, anti-social and very annoying.
As with a dockless (无桩) bike, scooters are fitted with GPS trackers and wireless . Customers download an app and scan a QR code on the scooter to unlock it. They are then a small amount. Bird, which launched its e-scooter in Santa Monica, California in September 2017 charges $l plus 15 cents per minute, on average, in the US-to travel where they want to go, at a maximum speed of around 15mph. At night, the scooters are rounded up, charged and returned to popularity.
E-Scooters have the potential to solve some of the worlds biggest transport problems. Most cities are already dangerously polluted and heavily congested, and it is simply not an option to put more cars and taxis on the streets. Scooters are efficient; one kilowatt hour of energy carries a car by petrol less than a mile, and an e-scooter 80 miles.
Scooters are clean, cheap, and they require little new infrastructure. For a country like car- America, they could genuinely transform an 60% of US journeys under six miles. Even in European cities, which have good public transport systems, they are very useful for travelling the "final mile". According to Bird,40% of taxi-riding journeys in London are under two miles, so e-scooters could help take a lot of cars off the streets.
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6、______ was obvious ______ the manager of the coffee shop was waiting for Li Fang to leave.A、This; that B、It; when C、That; that D、It; that
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7、______hard you try, it is difficult to lose weight without cutting down the amount you eat.A、Whatever B、Whichever C、However D、Whenever
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8、________ we've advanced our service quality is helpful in attracting more customers in the future.A、How B、Why C、Which D、That
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9、In my opinion, ______ makes the novel so extraordinary is the creative imagination of the writer.A、which B、what C、that D、whether
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10、No matter where he is, he makes ______ a rule to go for a walk before breakfast.A、it B、this C、that D、what
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11、Do you ________ of the idea that success can be measured in terms of money alone?A、consist B、approve C、assume D、prove
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12、Don't_____________ your skin to too much sunshine.A、expose B、explore C、explode D、export
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13、—How did you make so rapid progress in your English? Do you have any secrets?
—No.Only ________ hard working.
A、in terms of B、in honor of C、by means of D、on behalf of -
14、Their facial features were virtually , making it difficult to tell them apart.A、perfect B、identical C、invisible D、unchanged
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15、Cats were brought to the island to control the rats and mice. Unfortunately, the cats subsequently developed a(n)______ for birds, too.A、habit B、interest C、passion D、appetite
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16、What the boy's father did was not ________ because his son has become a useful person for society.A、in vain B、in contrast C、in case D、in advance
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17、This theory may provide a ______ explanation for the origins of the universe.A、promising B、convincing C、rewarding D、demanding
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18、Tom told me that he would ________ in my project if I could give him a plan for the project with more details.A、compete B、decrease C、invest D、occupy
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19、Tomorrow the mayor is to_____a group of French businessmen on a tour of the city.A、accompany B、support C、associate D、assist
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20、There has been a very serious decline in the numbers of shallow-water fish as a result of overfishing. People still want to eat fish, so the fishing industry must look at other sources, especially the deep waters of the Atlantic.
Conservation measures will have to be put in place if these deep-sea fish are to survive. Research on five such species shows that numbers have declined by between 87 percent and 98 percent. Many species could well disappear completely if the present trend continues. These are species that have been swimming in our oceans for hundreds of millions of years.
The problem is emphasized by the fact that the decline in numbers happened in less than twenty years. Deep-sea fish take a long time to reproduce and normally live for many years. The average size of such fish also declined, with one species showing a 57 percent decline in average size. This is of particular concern, as large fish tend to produce more offspring than small ones.
The deep-sea species have been caught as if they were the fast-breeding (快速繁殖) fish like sardine and herring. It is like killing elephants as if they reproduced at the same rate as rabbits.
The damage done by overfishing goes beyond the sea environment. Millions of people make a living in the fishing industry. Measures must be taken to not only conserve ecosystems, but also sustain livelihoods and ensure food security.
A. Billions of people rely on fish for protein.
B. Many people now choose not to eat deep-sea fish.
C. Unfortunately, their reproduction rate is very low.
D. This puts them in the category of "critically endangered".
E. None of these facts has been taken into account by the fishing industry.
F. Overfishing is a major cause of decline in populations of ocean wildlife.
G. This has resulted in a sharp decline in the numbers of many of the species caught.