The term “Industry 4.0” refers to the fourth industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution was the production of goods with machines like steam engines, which was followed by the second industrial revolution that introduced mass production with the help of electric power, followed by the digital revolution —the use of electronics and IT in production.
Industry 4.0 is a high-tech project, which promotes the computerization of manufacturing (制造业). The basic principle of Industry 4.0 is that by connecting machines, work pieces and systems, we are creating intelligent networks along the entire value chain that can control each other automatically. The goal is the Smart Factory, which adapts well and uses resources efficiently as well as linking customers and business partners with great intelligence. Technological basis are the Internet systems and advanced factories. Experts believe that Industry 4.0 could be a reality in about 10 to 20 years.
So, what effects does this change have on the classic manufacturing? According to an expert, “it is highly likely that the world of production will become more and more networked until everything is connected with everything else.” Networks and processes have so far been limited to one factory. But in the time of Industry 4.0, the boundaries (界限) of individual factories will most likely no longer exist. Instead, they will be lifted in order to inter-connect multiple factories or even geographical regions.
How is an Industry 4.0 factory different from a today’s factory? In current industry environment, providing high-end quality service or product with the least cost is the key to success. Factories are trying to increase their profit as much as possible. In the time of Industry 4.0, various data sources are available to provide worthwhile information about different aspects of the factory. Using data for understanding the current condition and checking faults and failures is a natural thing. The sharing of information around the clock and around the globe will enable these connected systems to manage themselves independently, work more efficiently and identify any errors quickly.
The good news is that Europe is much better prepared for the Industry 4.0 revolution than one might think. Europe will position itself as a pioneer in the fourth revolution. Industry 4.0 is a project in the high-tech strategy of the German government. Meanwhile, in the U.S., some companies are also working hard on it. But the success of industry depends on whether business and politics can work together. It’s not only politics that needs to help open the door for Industry 4.0. Every company is advised to seize the new digital opportunities.What marks the coming of Industry 4.0?
| A．Steam engines. | B．Mass production. |
| C．Use of electronics. | D．Intelligent networks. |
Industry 4.0 will probably result in ________ in the world of manufacturing.
| A．production limited to an individual factory |
| B．everything connected with everything else |
| C．networks and processes no longer existing |
| D．classic factories stopping their competition |
What’s the meaning of the underlined part in Para. 4?
| A．Sharing information of the world time. |
| B．Global news broadcast at any time. |
| C．Instant worldwide information exchange. |
| D．Spreading news widely on the hour. |
According to the last paragraph, who is the most active in pushing Industry 4.0?
| A．The European companies. | B．The American government. |
| C．The American companies. | D．The German government. |
The writer’s attitude toward Industry 4.0 can best be described as ________.
| A．supportive | B．negative |
| C．doubtful | D．cautious |
WASHINGTON — President Obama and his wife, Michelle, handed out Halloween treats to area children and military families at the White House Sunday evening．
Local students between 6 and 14 years old, along with children from military families, were invited to celebrate Halloween on the North Lawn．
The president and first lady, along with Mrs．Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, spent about 30 minutes passing out goodie bags．Obama wished each child a happy Halloween as he distributed the treats, pausing occasionally for hugs or to comment on costumes．
Later, the military families continued the celebration inside the White House．
The first couple joked to assembled reporters about children walking the long driveway in order to work off （消化掉） the snacks．"This is the Let's Move method of trick-or-treating （不给糖就捣蛋）," Obama said, referring to Mrs．Obama's campaign to combat childhood obesity （肥胖）．
The goodie bags contained a box of White House M&Ms, a cookie made by pastry chef （点心师） Bill Yosses, and dried fruit．
As they made their way across the lawn, the children meet a vast range of costumed characters ranging from a spooky Frankenstein （科学怪人,小说《弗兰肯斯坦》的主角） to the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz．" Music from a jazz band dressed in pirate gear rang out across the White House grounds．
Multicolored pumpkins and gourds lined the driveway — individually, in gravity-defying stacks and as part of a large mound over 5 feet tall．Pumpkin-headed scarecrows （稻草人） made of cornstalks loomed over the path with menacingly raised arms．Under the White House portico, a mobile resembling bats flying through clouds fluttered around a lantern．
Some of the local trick-or-treaters were students at Bancroft Elementary, which helps tend the first lady's White House garden, and Tubman Elementary, which has a relationship with the White House chefs．
After trick-or-treating ended, the Obamas stood near the front door, welcoming the military families inside, helping children climb the short flight of steps and thanking parents for their service．What is the news report mainly about?
| A．President Obama and first lady celebrated Halloween with children． |
| B．President Obama and his wife Michelle handed out Halloween treats to children． |
| C．Children from military families were invited to celebrate Halloween at the White House． |
| D．Trick-or-treaters met a vast range of costumed characters from Frankenstein to the Scarecrow． |
From the passage, we know that ______ do not necessarily appear when people celebrate Halloween．
| A．Goodie bags |
| B．Pumpkins and Gourds |
| C．White House M&Ms |
| D．Costumed characters |
When celebrating Halloween at the White House, the Obamas did the following EXCEPT______．
| A．Wishing each child a happy Halloween |
| B．Thanking reporters for their covering the event |
| C．Helping children climb the short flight of steps |
| D．Hugging children and commenting on their costumes |
The passage is mainly developed by ______．
| A．analyzing causes | B．making comparisons |
| C．examining differences | D．following the time order |
Jeffery Deaver looks more like a brainy villain （反派人物） in a James Bond movie than a "00" agent in Her Majesty's secret service．Best known for his thrillers starring criminalist （刑事专家） Lincoln Rhyme, Jeffery Deaver has a new mission: Bring Bond into the 21st century in a new 007 novel．
The yet-to-be-named book is cryptically （隐秘地） referred to as "Project X" by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd．, which owns the rights to Fleming's work．Most of the details surrounding Project X, to be published in May, are being kept under wraps, but under gentle coaxing （用好话劝诱） Deaver begins to spill his guts．"The novel," he says, "is set in the present day, in 2011．Bond is a young agent for the British secret service．He's 29 or 30 years old, and he's an Afghan war vet．" That in itself is big news．After all, if Bond were aging in real time — he first appeared on the screen in 1953 — the now doddering （老态龙钟的） 007 would be nearly 90．
But first up: a new stand-alone Deaver novel, Edge （Simon & Schuster, $26．99）, to be published Tuesday．It's about a federal agent who risks his life to protect a Washington police detective from a man hired to extract information from him using any means at his disposal （任由个人支配的）．
Sipping coffee while seated on a leather chair in a sitting room decorated with portraits of his dogs and show ribbons, the mild-mannered author who writes about murderers and serial killers talks about his career and the solid fan base that has allowed him to pursue writing full time since 1990．"I may not sell as many books as John Grisham（although he has sold a cool 20 million）, but I have a very loyal fan base," says Deaver, 60, who wrote some of his novels while working as a Wall Street lawyer．Deaver's initiation into the Bond family — more than 100 million 007 novels have sold worldwide — could significantly raise his profile （知名度）．
Other novelists have written Bond novels since Ian Fleming's death in 1964 — including Kingsley Amis, John Gardner and, most recently, Sebastian Faulks — but they all took place in the original era．Deaver is taking a new approach．"There's no more Cold War to fight," says Deaver, so his new Bond, of the Fleming estate, will fight "post-9/11 evil．" "I want to stay true to the original James Bond, who many people don't know much about," he says, referring to the secret agent Fleming portrayed in 14 novels, and not the movie Bond．"People know Daniel Craig, they know Pierce Brosnan, they know Roger Moore and Sean Connery, all of whom brought a great deal to the stories of 007．But the original Bond was a very dark, edgy （另类的） character．"Which of the following is NOT true about Jeffery Deaver?
| A．Jeffery Deaver is a "00" agent in Her Majesty's secret service in a James Bond movie． |
| B．Jeffery Deaver was working as a lawyer while he wrote some novels about murderers and serial killers． |
| C．It is the loyal fan base that has allowed Jeffery Deaver to keep on writing since 1990． |
| D．Jeffery Deaver is best known for his thrillers rather than for 007 novels． |
Which statement best explains the meaning of “spill his guts” in Paragraph 2?
| A．Tell others what he knows about the yet-to-be-named 007 novel． |
| B．Tell others everything he knows about Ian Fleming Publications Ltd．． |
| C．Have the courage to talk about the 007 agent James Bond． |
| D．Have the determination to talk about "Project X"． |
Who was the author of 007 novels?
| A．Jeffery Deaver | B．Ian Fleming |
| C．John Grisham | D．Kingsley Amis |
What do you know about the new 007 novel from the passage?
| A．The book to be published in May is named "Project X" by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd．． |
| B．The book is about a federal agent risking his life to protect a Washington police detective． |
| C．The book features a young James Bond, an Afghan war vet working for the British secret service． |
| D．The book features a young James Bond who fights Cold War． |
Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around them．Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment．You only have to share your children’s curiosity．Firstly, listen to their questions．I once visited a classroom of seven－year－olds to talk about science as a job．The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job．When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence．Finally I said, “Now that we’re finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?”
After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, “Have you ever seen a grasshopper （蚱蜢） eat? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache．Why?”
This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours．
Secondly, give them time to think．Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think．When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children give more logical, complete and creative answers．
Thirdly, watch your language．Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “Very good”．These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior．But in talking about science, quick praise can signal that discussion is over．Instead, keep things going by saying, “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that way before”, or coming up with more questions or ideas．
Never push a child to “Think”．It doesn’t make sense, children are always thinking, without your telling them to．What’s more, this can turn a conversation into a performance．The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target for your disagreement．
Lastly, show; don’t tell．Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lesson children can learn from a book or a television program．Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass, and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner．Rather than saying that water evaporates, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop．According to the passage, children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults ______．
| A．ask them to answer quickly |
| B．wait for one or two seconds after a question |
| C．tell them to answer the next day |
| D．wait at least for three seconds after a question |
In which of the following paragraph（s） does the author tell us what to say to encourage children in a science discussion?
| A．The second and third． | B．The fourth and fifth． |
| C．The fifth and sixth． | D．The seventh． |
In the last sentence of the first paragraph, the word “lists” could best be replaced by
| A．any questions | B．any problems |
| C．questions from textbooks | D．any number of questions |
The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity EXCEPT that adults should ______．
| A．tell their children stories instead of reciting facts |
| B．offer their children chances to see things for themselves |
| C．be patient enough when their children answer questions |
| D．encourage their children to ask questions of their own |
Driving to a friend’s house on a recent evening, I was struck by the sight of the full moon rising just above my friend’s rooftops, huge and round, yellow through the dust and smoke of the city. I stopped to watch it for a few moments, thinking what a pity it was that most city livers---myself included---usually miss sights like this because we spend most of our lives indoors.
My friend had also seen it. He grew up living in a forest in Europe, and the moon meant a lot to him then. It had touched much of his life.
I know the feeling. Last December I took my seven-year-old daughter to the mountainous jungle of northern India with some friends. We stayed in a forest rest house with no electricity or hot water. Our group had campfires outside every night, and indoors when it was too cold outside. The moon grew to its fullest during our trip. Between me and the high mountains lay three or four valleys. Not a light shone in them and not a sound could be heard. It was one of the quietest places I have ever known, a bottomless well of silence. And above me was the full moon.
Today our lives are connected with glass, metal, plastic and fiber-glass. We eat and breathe things our bodies were not designed to process. We have televisions, cell phones, pagers, electricity, heaters, air-conditioners, cars and computers. White noise and pollution is in the air. Radio waves and strange lights are constantly disturbing our minds and bodies.
Struggling through traffic that evening at the end of a tiring day, most of it spent indoors, I saw the moon and remembered these things. And I thought: before long, I would like to live in a small cottage. There I will grow vegetables and read books and walk in the mountains and perhaps write. I may grow old there. But I will be able to walk outside on a cold silent night and touch the moon.What was the author’s pity in this passage?
| A．Most people living in the city failed to see the beautiful moon. |
| B．There was too much pollution in the city. |
| C．There were too many modern inventions. |
| D．There was too much traffic on the road. |
What attracted the author most according to the passage?
| A．The mountainous jungle of India. | B．The fullest moon. |
| C．The high mountains in India. | D．All kinds of modern inventions. |
The author longs for ________.
| A．Camping outside at night | B．Returning to the nature |
| C．Writing books | D．Watching the moon |
The main idea of this passage probably is “________”.
| A．Disadvantage of Living in Cities |
| B．The Pleasure of Being out at Night |
| C．Touched by the Moon |
| D．Pollution Caused by Modern Technology |
You must have a favorite line or pet phrase you repeat often in your conversations. Studies say that pet phrases can reflect our changing society and reveal information about a person’s personality. Here are some of the most popular pet phrases among young people.
脑残---nuts
I love the word and use it whenever I think a person is stupid, or a behavior is crazy. I learned the term from one of my classmates. Once, we saw two high school girls wearing miniskirts on a very cold winter day and my classmate called the two girls “nuts”. I don’t think the word reflects my personality. I use it because it sounds cool.
Diao Yujie, 22, computer science major at Nanjing University.
汗---stunning
I use this word very often. Once, my classmates and I were discussing how amusing QQ is. One guy suddenly burst out, “I have MSN too”. This comment had no relation with the topic we were discussing. I used this word and everybody laughed. I think it is a fantastic word that can change awkwardness to amusement.
Mu Li, 20, journalism major at Beijing Normal University.
晕死---I’m giddy!
I use this word a lot---more often than my classmates. It has became a symbol of me, as my friends sometimes refer to me as the guy who often says the word. I am a person who wants to be different and this word gives me that feeling.
Chen Zhou, 21, Nanjing University.
雷---stunning
I only use this word with my friends. My parents don’t understand it. The word, which is only used among people of my age, is intimate. I think it stands for being young and energetic. And I want to be young forever, so I like the word.
Chen Jianjun, 23, senior at Nanjing University.If a man wearing suit and a tie is climbing a mountain, what can we say to him according to the passage?
| A．nuts | B．I’m giddy. | C．汗---stunning | D．雷---stunning |
What’s the meaning of “pet phrase” in the first paragraph?
| A．习惯用语 | B．宠物语言 | C．口头禅 | D．座右铭 |
What’s young people’s attitude to pet phrase?
| A．indifferent | B．crazy | C．reasonable | D．against |
Pet phrase can ________ according to studies.
| A．reflect our changing society |
| B．reveal information about a person’s personality |
| C．make young people popular |
| D．both A and B |