PITTSBURGH – For most people, snakes seem unpleasant or even threatening. But Howie Choset sees in their delicate movements a way to save lives.
The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snake-like robots he hopes will eventually slide through fallen buildings in search of victims trapped after natural disasters or other emergencies.
Dan Kara is president of Robotics Trends, a Northboro, Mass.-based company that publishes an online industry magazine and runs robotics trade shows. He said there are other snake-like robots being developed, mainly at universities, but didn’t know of one that could climb pipes.
The Carnegie Mellon machines are designed to carry cameras and electronic sensors and can be controlled with a joystick(操纵杆). They move smoothly with the help of small electric motors, or servos, commonly used by hobbyists in model airplanes.
Built from lightweight materials, the robots are about the size of a human arm orsmaller. They can sense which way is up, but are only as good as their human operators, Choset added.
Sam Stover, a search term manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency based in Indiana, said snake-type robots would offer greater mobility than equipment currently available, such as cameras attached to extendable roles.
“It just allows us to do something we’ve not been able to do before,” Stover said, “We needed them yesterday.”
He said sniffer dogs are still the best search tool for rescue workers, but that they can only be used effectively when workers have access to damaged buildings.
Stover, among the rescue workers who handled the aftermath (后果) of Hurricane Katrina, said snake robots would have helped rescuers search flooded houses in that disaster.
Choset said the robots may not be ready for use for another five to ten years, depending on funding.
72. Which institution is responsible for the development of Choset’s robots?
A. Robotics Trends. B. Pittsburgh City Council.
C. Carnegie Mellon University. D. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
73. Choset believes that his invention ______.
A. can be attached to an electronic arm B. can be used by hobbyists in model airplanes
C. can find victims more quickly than a sniffer dog
D. can sense its way no better than its operators
74. By saying “We needed them yesterday” (paragraph 7), Stover means that snake-like robots _____.
A. could help handle the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
B. would have been put to use in past rescue work
C. helped rescuers search flooded houses yesterday
D. were in greater need yesterday than today
75. What is the text mainly about?
A. Snake-like robots used in industries. B. Snake-like robots made to aid in rescues.
C. The development of snake-like robots. D. The working principles of snake-like robots.
Diao Weihao, a student who studies business English at the Chengdu campus of Sichuan International Studies University, was in his dormitory when the earthquake struck at 2:30 pm on Monday.
The 22-year-old felt that his chair was shaking. All of a sudden, the textbooks on the bookshelf began to fall to the floor. The glass in the window broke.
“It felt like our dormitory building was being hit by a tractor,” recalled Diao. “I wasn’t afraid.. I was even excited and curious. Now, looking back, it was a scary experience.”
Diao and his roommates kept their calm. They didn’t try to get out of the building until the shaking stopped. They were on the fifth floor and they feared there might be trouble if they didn’t remain calm.
“We’ve watched lots of disaster films, and that helped us keep cool,” he said. “Only one student sprained（扭伤） his ankle. He was escaping in a hurry. Most of us got outside quickly and safely.”
They were surprised to see so many students outside.
“I began to realize then what had happened,” he said. The college had warned them that in the event of an earthquake, they should leave the dormitory immediately. A few did rush in when it was safe to grab some clothes to keep warm.
Without any tents or bedding, the students stayed on the football field for the whole night. Rain started falling in the morning, but the students all kept in good order. They simply chatted and shared their feelings and comforted each other.
“Our students seemed to have self-control,” he said. “I heard that hospitals in Chengdu have lots of injured people who jumped out of buildings.”
Now, Diao is mostly worried about the people in Wenchuan County.
“It seems we won’t be able to have classes in one or two day’s time,” said Diao. “I want to become a volunteer at the damage-hit area, or donate my blood to the injured people in hospital. Also, I will write on my blog to keep people calm and encourage them to protect themselves during emergencies.”
Since the university is close to Dujiangyan, Diao and his classmates are still forbidden to return to their dorms or classrooms. However, they can eat in the canteen and get information about other parts of Sichuan by reading the newspapers.Where was Diao Weihao when the earthquake happened?
| A．He was in the campus. | B．He was in the football field. |
| C．He was in his dormitory | D．He was in his classroom. |
What did Diao Weihao feel when he realized what was happening?
| A．Afraid | B．Interesting | C．Moved | D．Calm |
When did Diao Weihao and his classmates rushed outside?
| A．During the quake |
| B．The moment they realized what was happening |
| C．After the quake |
| D．When they got warnings. |
Rearrange the following events in the proper order according to the passage.
a. They got out of buildings safely.
b. Diao Weihao was in his dormitory.
c. Diao Weihao wanted to be a volunteer.
d. Many classmates went out of the building.
e. An earthquake happened.
f. They stayed on the football field for the whole night.
| A．b→e→a→d→f→c | B．b→e→d→a→f→c |
| C．e→a→b→d→c→f | D．f→a→c→f→e→d |
From this passage, we know that Diao Weihao and his classmates are _________.
| A．energetic and strong in will | B．wise and caring |
| C．hardworking and learned | D．helpful and honest |
It’s only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in “Fiji time”?
Viti Levu – Great Fiji – is the largest island. Here you’ll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. Vatoa, on the other hand, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay.
With less than a million people living on islands, you’ll never feel crowded. And with a climate that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there’s never a bad time to come.
From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world.
Whenever you come, wherever you go, you’re sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious(宗教的) songs. From market days to religious days. It’s not just staged for tourists; it’s still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji’s spirit by being part of the traditional sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant.
So why not join us for the experience of a lifetime? Where is the international airport of Fiji?
| A．In Suva. |
| B．In Sydney. |
| C．On the island of Vatoa. |
| D．On the island of Viti Levu. |
What does the text tell us about Fijian people?
| A．They invented “Fiji time” for visitors. |
| B．They stick to a traditional way of life. |
| C．They like to travel from place to place. |
| D．They love taking adventures abroad. |
The words “…is just staged for ”in the fifth paragraph most probably means________
| A．to make sth happen |
| B．to organize an event for people to see |
| C．to take part in an action |
| D．to divide into some parts |
One of the things that make Fiji a tourist attraction is _______.
| A．its comfortable hotels |
| B．its good weather all year round |
| C．its exciting football matches |
| D．its religious beliefs |
Where can we most probably read this text?
| A．In a personal diary. |
| B．In a science report. |
| C．In a travel magazine. |
| D．In a geography textbook. |
Down-to-earth means being honest, open, and easy to deal with. It is a pleasure to find someone who is down-to-earth. A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to. He or she accepts others as equals. A down-to-earth person may be an important member of society, of course, but they do not let their importance go to their heads, and they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. Someone who is filled with self-importance and pride, often without cause, is said to have his nose in the air. There is no way a person with his nose in the air can be down-to-earth.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some way to down-to-earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality. He has what is called common sense. He may have dreams but he does not allow them to block his knowledge of what is real. The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. A man with his head in the clouds is a dreamer whose mind is not in the world. Sometimes such a dreamer can be brought back to reality; sharp words from the teacher, for example, can usually get a daydreaming student to put both feet back on the ground.
The person who is down-to-earth usually has both feet on the ground. But the opposite is not always true. Someone with both feet on the ground may not be as open and easy to deal with as someone who is down-to-earth. When we have both our feet firmly on the ground, we are realistic and we act honestly and openly toward others, and our lives are like the ground below us, solid and strong.If a person has his nose in the air, he ____.
| A．is down to the earth |
| B．is easy to deal with |
| C．always thinks he is more important than others |
| D．is confident |
If a person has both feet on the ground, he ____.
| A．is in touch with reality, and doesn’t have any dreams |
| B．has some dreams but he is realistic |
| C．is honest, open and easy to deal with |
| D．is honest, open but hard to deal with |
The underlined sentence “But the opposite is not always true.” most probably means that ______.
| A．the person who has his nose in the air is not true |
| B．a man with his head in the clouds is often not intelligent |
| C．the opposite direction is always wrong |
| D．a person who has both feet on the ground may not be down-to-earth |
While many modern forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail, and letters, are extremely convenient. In my opinion, nothing beats speaking to another person face to face.
The first and most obvious advantage that a face communication has over a letter and e-mail is that there is the ability to interactively(相互作用地)converse. If the sender of a letter or an email does not write clearly, then much time must be spent to clear up the misunderstanding. In a face-to-face conversation, misunderstandings are easily dealt with because of the interactive nature of it.
I would still argue that the face-to-face conversation is better because you can see the other person. Not all communication is verbal(口头的); the meaning of much of what we say depends on our body language and the tone of voice. Joking and irony are particularly difficult to express and enjoy without seeing the expression on someone’s face, or watching the movements of their body.
Finally, if the goal of communication is to maintain or deepen the relationship(关系)with someone, the face-to-face communication offers the choice of communication by touch even if we could communicate by the video. Trust and respect between business partners can be established with a firm handshake. No amount of body language can convey the excitement of a high five between friends, and no number of words can communicate the comforting embrace of a loved one. Touch is the first basic method of our human relationships, before spoken language, and it is only available when people communicate face to face.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．How to communicate more effectively(有效率地) |
| B．The importance of using body language in communication |
| C．Face-to-face communication, the best way of communicating |
| D．Comparison(比较)of different communication forms |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．A letter or e-mail is always written unclearly. |
| B．Business partners can show trust through a firm handshake. |
| C．During a conversation, body language is also important. |
| D．The face-to-face conversation is a way of communication. |
Which of the following can communicate the feeling a loved one perfectly?
| A．letter | B．e-mail | C．phone | D．face to face communication |
The author’s attitude towards forms of communication is .
| A．Modern forms of communication like phone calls and e-mail are extremely convenient. |
| B．Traditional ways of communication are out of date and should fall into disuse. |
| C．Face-to-face communication can only be used among strangers. |
| D．Face-to-face communication has advantages over the other ways of communication. |
Nothing can destroy a vacation quicker than losing your money or credit cards. A few simple steps before you head out of the door can help protect your cash, card and personal information while you’re traveling.
Paul Stephens, a policy analyst San Diego, notes that people spend a lot of time planning their trips, from buying guidebooks to finding just the right beach outfits（装备）.“But their eyes glaze（呆滞） over when the subject of keeping money safe comes up,” he said.
“Why not take a few minutes to do something that could probably save your vacation?” Stephens asked．“In most cases, they can go on your to-do list with‘ buy travel bags’ and everything else,” he added.
The top recommendation is to clean your wallet. Remove unnecessary credit cards and any other unneeded documents that could compromise（危及...的安全）your identity(身份) if lost or stolen while you’re on vocation.
Then make a photocopy of the cards you’ve decided to take along and keep it in a secure location with you（not in your wallet）or leave it with a trusted relative or friend back home. Then you will know who you need to contact and how to reach it if your wallet is missing.
“Travelers should never leave their wallets or any identifying documents in their hotel room when they’re not there,” he said.” Choose a hotel with a safe to keep your valuable things in. Or keep your wallet and documents with you at all times. ”According to passage, _______can destroy one’s vacation the most quickly.
| A．being lost on vacation | B．losing money or credit cards |
| C．living in a bad hotel. | D．losing contact with family |
What does the underlined word stand for?
| A．The people who are going traveling. |
| B．The outfits that are prepare4d for traveling. |
| C．The suggestions on what to buy when traveling. |
| D．The steps to avoid losing money or credit cards. |
What should people do with their wallet before they go on vacation?
| A．Take it with them all the time. | B．Put it in a safe place at the hotel |
| C．Remove unnecessary cards and documents. | D．Leave it with family or friend. |
What is the topic of the passage?
| A．How to prepare for travel. |
| B．How to be happy during your vacation. |
| C．How to keep cash and cards safe on vacation. |
| D．How to protect your luggage on vacation |
According to the passage, we know ______.
| A．people don’t always know how to protect their money or credit cards |
| B．people should take a lot of money with them while traveling |
| C． people can leave their identifying documents in rooms, if the hotel is expensive |
| D．people can spend a few minutes preparing the luggage for travelling |