TOKYO, JAPAN – What do you do when you see a cockroach (蟑螂)? Do you hit it with a newspaper? Do you step on it?
When researchers at Tokyo University see a cockroach, they take the remote control and make the cockroach turn around, run left or right, or go forward. These scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots（机器人）. Each cockroach has a very small packet that has in it a microprocessor (微处理器). Then researchers can send signals (信号) from the remote control to the packet. The signals control the movements of the cockroaches.
Why does anyone want to control a cockroach? “Insects can do many things that people can’t,” says Isao Shimoyama, head of robot research at Tokyo University. In a few years, he says, these robot insects will carry very small cameras. They will be able to move through earthquake rubble (瓦砾) to look for people or move under doors to find information about someone.
This may seem strange, but the Japanese government thinks the research is very important. The government is giving the scientists $ 5 million for this research.
First, the research keeps hundreds of cockroaches. They use only the American cockroach because it is bigger and stronger than other cockroaches. Then they choose the best cockroaches and remove their wings and antennae (触须). They put small packets where the antennae were. The packets weigh about three grams, or about two times the weight of the cockroaches themselves. “Cockroaches are very strong,” says Ralph Holzer, who is a researcher at Tokyo University. “They can lift 20 times their own weight.”
With a remote control, the scientists send signals to the packets. When a cockroach gets the signal, it moves. The problem is that the cockroaches don’t always move in the right direction.The scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots because _________.
| A．they want cockroaches to do things people can’t in the future |
| B．they want to control the movements of the cockroaches |
| C．they want cockroaches to take photos of the earthquakes |
| D．they want to send signals to the packets on the cockroaches |
Scientists control cockroaches’ movements _________.
| A．by removing their wings |
| B．by sending signals from the remote control |
| C．by using very small cameras |
| D．by removing their antennae |
What can cockroaches do to help people?
| A．They can lift 200 times their own weight. |
| B．They can help people to carry very small cameras. |
| C．They can keep hundreds of cockroaches. |
| D．They can search for those people in rubble after an earthquake. |
What problem do the cockroaches meet with?
| A．The cockroaches sometimes don’t move. |
| B．The cockroaches are too big to move through earthquake rubble. |
| C．The cockroaches sometimes move in the wrong direction. |
| D．The cockroaches can only lift 20 times their own weight. |
When we talk about stars, especially women stars, it seems that they are always young, pretty and own charming body shapes. But recently a Britain’s Got Talent（英国达人）star Susan Boyle has changed our views absolutely.
Simon Cowell, one of the judges of the talent show spoke of his shock over Ms Boyle’s voice. “This lady camp up, and I’m thinking, ‘This will take five seconds and I can go to have a cup of tea’. That changed when she began to sing ‘I Dreamed to Dream’ from Les Miserables. She knew we were going to have that reaction and just to see that look of satisfaction on her face through –it was one of my favorite moments,” Cowell said.
The performance was posted online and before long, the 47-year-old Scottish woman has been famous all over the world.
Speaking from her home in Scotland, Ms Boyle said that she hasn’t thought of changing her appearance.
Ms Boyle also spoke of the reason she first began to explore her vocal（嗓音的） talents, “I was kind of slow at school, so getting like singing was a good way of hiding behind that and thus it built my confidence.” Susan Boyle is _________.
| A．a judge | B．a reporter |
| C．a young lady | D．a Scottish woman |
Susan Boyle had a look of satisfaction on her face when she was singing because______.
| A．she was confident of her singing |
| B．she was satisfied with the judges |
| C．she was pretty and in good shape |
| D．she sang ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables |
According to the passage, which is NOT true?
| A．It was the vocal talents that built Susan’s confidence |
| B．Susan Boyle was not good at her lesson when at school. |
| C．Susan Boyle became famous because of her appearance. |
| D．Simon Cowell didn’t think Susan Boyle a good singer at the first sight. |
What can we learn from Susan Boyle’s success?
| A．It’s never too old to learn. |
| B．It’s easier to succeed at the age of 47. |
| C．If you have a dream, try to make it come true! |
| D．If you are not able to study well, to be a singer instead. |
Island University has a competition for middle school students.
Read about the competition on their website.
School Competition
Students! Here is your chance to help the physically disabled. Think out a robot or a machine to help them live better. There'll be three prizes. The winning schools each will get $ 15,000. Read the information below:
What do you have to do?
● Try to know problems faced by the physically disabled in Hong Kong. Write a 200-word article on the difficulties these people have to suffer each day.
● Try to know modern inventions that help the physically disabled. Then think out a robot or a machine that will improve the lives of the physically disabled. Draw your invention. You can make as many drawings as you like to show your invention. You can even make a small model of your invention
● Write a short description of your invention
Who-can join? All middle school students in Hong Kong. So, come on! Join the competition, and get the chance! Who can take part in the competition?
| A．The disabled. | B．Middle school students. |
| C．Middle school teachers. | D．All the readers. |
What will be the award for the winners?
| A．Souvenirs | B．Inventions. |
| C．Pictures. | D．Money. |
A participant is asked to write a 200-word article about _______.
| A．the difficulties the disabled face |
| B．his suffering |
| C．his invention |
| D．his wishes for the disabled |
The aim of the activity is to_______.
| A．make the disabled know more about modern technology |
| B．remind people of the importance of caring for the disabled |
| C．encourage teenagers to use modern technology to help the disabled |
| D．help people learn how to help the disabled |
Reporter: How long have you been a firefighter?
Wilson: For eight years.
Reporter: How did you get started?
Wilson: First, 1 had to take a lot of tests in two weeks. Then, I went to the firefighter school for four months. 1 learned how to put out fires and how to use equipment I also had a full-time training every day!
Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job?
Wilson: I wear special clothing. It helps keep me protected from fire. I also carry an oxygen tank and a mask. They help me in a smoke-filled building.
Reporter: Are there any new tools that firefighters use?
Wilson: We have a special camera that can see in the dark. That way, we can exactly tell the place of a fire.
Reporter: Do you ever get afraid?
Wilson: No. There is no time to he afraid. I just think about how to put out the fire .
Reporter: What do you like best about being a firefighter?
Wilson: Helping people!To become a firefighter, Kate Wilson ____________at first.
| A．took a lot of tests | B．learned to stay safe |
| C．saved some animals | D．used fire equipments |
Kate Wilson says she does not get afraid because_____________.
| A．she has an oxygen tank |
| B．she knows how to fight fires |
| C．she enjoys finding heat |
| D．she is too busy putting out fires |
As a firefighter, Kate Wilson likes____________ most.
| A．wearing a mask | B．asking questions |
| C．helping people | D．hiding in smoke |
What did the reporter make this interview for?
| A．To tell people what a firefighter does. |
| B．To teach people how to prevent fires. |
| C．To make people want to be firefighters. |
| D．To show people how a firefighter is trained. |
Years ago, I lived in a building in a large city. There was another building not far from mine. A woman lived there. I had never met her, but I could see her sit by the window each afternoon, sewing（缝纫）or reading.
After several months, I began to notice that her window was dirty. Everything was unclear through the dirty window. I would say to myself, “What a lazy woman! I wonder why she doesn’t wash her window. It really looks terrible.”
One bright morning, I decided to clean my flat, including the windows. When I finally finished the cleaning, I sat down by the window for a rest. What a surprise! Everything in the woman’s flat could be seen clearly. Her window was clean!
I began to understand. I watched the woman’s window from my own dirty window. That’s the problem! That is quite an important lesson for me. How often do I look at and criticize others through the dirty window of my heart?
From then on, whenever I want to judge someone, I ask myself first, “Am I looking at him through my dirty window?” Then I try to clean the window of my own world so that I may see others’ world more clearly.What does the underlined word judge mean in Chinese according to the passage?
| A．赞美 | B．评判 | C．妒嫉 | D．鼓励 |
Why couldn’t the writer see things clearly through the window?
| A．Because the woman’s window was dirty. |
| B．Because his own window was dirty. |
| C．Because the woman lived far away. |
| D．Because he had poor eyesight. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．one shouldn’t criticize others very often. |
| B．one should look at others through his dirty windows. |
| C．one should often keep his windows clean. |
| D．one should judge himself before he judges others. |
阅读表达。阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题。
回答下面5个问题，每题答案不超过10个词。
Sometimes people come into your life and you know that they are there to teach you a lesson, or to help you understand who you are or who you want to become.
You never know these people who may be a classmate, a neighbour or a friend—but when you lock your eyes on them, you know at that very moment they will influence your life in some ways.
Sometimes things that happen to you may seem unpleasant, painful, or frustrating at first. But in another way, you find that without getting over those difficulties you would have never realized your ability, strength or will power(意志力).
The people you meet and the success you get help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experience can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.
If someone loves you, give love back to them in the way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
If someone hurts you, or breaks your heart, forgive(原谅) them, for they have helped you learn about truth and the importance of being careful of people around.
Self-confidence is necessary to a person. If you’re not confident, it will be hard for others to believe in you.
Learn a lesson in life each day you live!
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