科学与技术

阅读理解

Passage 1

In 2018， a severe drought brought Cape Town close to “Day Zero”， when it could have become the world’s first major city to run out of water. Dam levels in South Africa’s Western Cape fell to below a fifth of capacity and the province suffered its worst water crisis in 100 years.

“The water supply was dwindling and it just wasn’t raining，” recalls Thinus Booysen， a professor at Stellenbosch University， who had created a device in 2015 designed to help homeowners cut their power usage. Seeking to reduce water waste， Booysen figured he could adapt the device to measure water usage instead of electricity use.

Soon， Booysen launched a start-up， Bridging the Internet of Things （BridgIoT）， to develop his idea. Called Count Dropula， the device reports water usage once a minute while many conventional devices only record data once an hour. The system uses an app in the user’s cellphone and sends short messages in real time. “Within minutes， we would be able to tell the user， ‘Something has burst， or something is leaking，’” he says.

Then Booysen discovered that a key issue was maintenance， with the poorest schools using by far the most water. Leaking toilets could waste 1，000 liters of water per day. “We found that the biggest problems are things like children not closing taps properly， but often that would be because the taps just don’t close，” Booysen explains. During the test， the invention saved one school more than three million liters of water in three months. Another reduced its water usage 55 percent in four months.

Businesses including Cape Talk radio station and Africa’s largest food company， Shoprite， became sponsors， partnering with the Western Cape Education Department to install （安装） test devices in 350 schools. They saved more than $2.7 million and almost 550 million liters of water in 17 months. Booysen has looked at expanding to government buildings， hospitals and hotels. There are plans to roll out the device across Africa.

1. What does the underlined word “dwindling” in Paragraph 2 probably mean？

A. Beginning. B. Continuing. C. Expanding. D. Decreasing.

2. What can we learn about Count Dropula？

A. It works smartly to help save water. B. It was designed by Booysen in 2015.

C. It will soon be tested in 350 schools. D. It cuts power usage efficiently.

3. What words can best describe Booysen？

A. Proud but determined. B. Careful and friendly.

C. Creative and caring. D. Strict but generous.

4. What will Booysen probably do next？

A. Become a member of Shoprite. B. Further promote his new invention.

C. Stop water pollution in Cape Town. D. Travel around Africa for better ideas.

Passage 2

Someday， you may no longer need to brush your teeth by hand. Instead， a group of billions of nanoparticles （纳米粒子） could automatically do it for you. It would be especially life-changing for those who find it difficult or impossible to hold and move a toothbrush.

Steager， an engineer at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia， an inventor and dental researcher there， found a way to form the nanoparticles into long， skinny bristles （刷毛）， a lot like the ones on a toothbrush. But these bristles shape-shift to fit whatever surface they encounter.

The tooth-cleaning robot works due to two magnets （磁铁）. One goes each side of the teeth. The nanoparticles sit in a liquid between the magnets. When the magnets are turned off， the nanoparticles move randomly in the liquid. As soon as one magnet gets turned on， the nanoparticles gather together near its center. When the researchers turn on the other magnet and turn off the first one， the nanoparticles extend outward in long， skinny bristles. When there’s a tooth in the way， these bristles can’t stretch out as far as they want. So they push against the tooth’s surface. If there’s a gap between teeth， they push into the gap. Moving the magnets makes the bristles move against and between teeth. All that motion cleans the teeth. As a bonus， the nanoparticles also have strong power to kill viruses.

The new device is just a proof of concept. The researchers still need to turn it into a product that people will want to use. “There’s a lot of engineering to get from here to there， but every good idea needs to have a start，” says Steager.

1. What is special about the tooth cleaner？

A. It’s transformable. B. It’s water-proof.

C. It contains skinny bristles. D. It uses little energy.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about？

A. The working principle. B. The magnets’ motion.

C. The virus-killing process. D. The bristles’ formation.

3. How does Steager feel about the future of the device？

A. Uncertain. B. Concerned. C. Confident. D. Disappointed.

4. What can be the best title for the text？

A. A Tooth-Cleaner Fighting Diseases B. A New Concept for a New Start

C. A Big Achievement in Medicine D. A Shape-Shifting Robotic Tooth-Cleaner

Passage 3

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst （UMass Amherst） recently announced that they have figured out how to engineer a biofilm （生物膜） that harvests the energy in evaporation （蒸发） and changes it to electricity. This biofilm， which was announced in Nature Communications， has the potential to completely change the world of wearable electronics， powering everything from personal medical sensors to personal electronics.

“This is a very exciting technology，” says Liu Xiaomeng， a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering in UMass Amherst’s College of Engineering and the paper’s lead author. “It generates real green energy， and unlike other so-called ‘green-energy’ sources， its production is totally green.”

That is because this biofilm—which is a sheet of bacterial cells and as thin as a sheet of paper—is produced naturally by an engineered version of the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens. G sulfurreducens is known to produce electricity and has been used previously in “microbial batteries” to power electrical equipment. But such batteries require that G sulfurreducens be properly cared for and fed a constant diet. By contrast， this new biofilm， which can supply as much energy as a comparably sized battery， works continuously， because it is dead. And because it is dead， it doesn’t need to be fed.

The secret behind this new biofilm is that it makes energy from the moisture （水分） on your skin. While we daily read stories about solar power， at least 50% of the solar energy reaching the earth goes toward evaporating water. “This is a huge， undiscovered source of energy，” says Yao Jun， professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMass Amherst， and the paper’s one senior author. Since the surface of our skin is constantly moist with sweat， the biofilm can “plug into” it and change the energy locked in evaporation into sufficient energy to power small equipment. “Our next step is to increase the size of our film to power more intelligent wearable electronics，” says Yao， and Liu points out that one of the goals is to power entire electronic systems， rather than single equipment.

1. What can the biofilm do according to the first paragraph？

A. Charge a car. B. Get power from evaporation.

C. Update wearable electronics. D. Transform the way of generating electricity.

2. What is the advantage of the biofilm compared with “microbial batteries”？

A. It is comparatively thinner. B. It is environmentally friendly.

C. It supplies more energy. D. It decreases the cost in usage.

3. How does the biofilm power small devices？

A. By interacting with solar power. B. By making electricity out of sweat.

C. By gaining energy from electronic system. D. By employing water to generate electricity.

4. What word best describes the biofilm？

A. Intelligent. B. Demanding. C. Delicate. D. Promising.

Passage 4

While Industry Revolution （IR） 5.0 is believed to have started in 2020， the rise of AI in recent years has led experts to say it is now coming. Imagine AI-powered robots that see， hear， touch and more， pooling fresh data from across those groups of sensors （传感器） to create that data with the vast ranges of digital data stored elsewhere online. The age is a major leap from the First Industrial Revolution， when steam engine started to achieve widespread commercial use.

Professor John Nosta says， “The integration of sensory capabilities into AI models is not merely a technological leap. It represents a shift in our philosophical understanding of artificial and human intelligence.”

He has also referred to the new era as “the Cognitive （认知） Age”， which will completely change how humans live， work， and think about themselves. According to Nosta， humans don’t typically think of computers as “experiencing” the world themselves. But that assumption will be challenged as more advanced AI systems are connected to ever more and ever greater sensors. The machines won’t just be logic boxes that humans input data and commands for processing. The AI will collect that data more and more on its own， experiencing the world for itself.

“This is not just about understanding words， but also about grasping the tone， pitch， and emphasis， which add layers of meaning often absent in written text. Image recognition adds another layer of complexity，” he added. “For example， it can analyze photographs， identify objects， and even understand the emotional content of facial expressions.”

The Johannesburg-based business school is just one of many college-level programs attempting to investigate and teach its students about the still-emerging IR 5.0. Seton Hall in New Jersey offers a three-credit course on this latest age in human technology and trade; MIT has brought in guest speakers to lecture on the concept， and many other research institutions are following suit.

1. In what way does IR 5.0 differ from previous industrial revolutions？

A. It processes data and commands. B. It interacts with humans through texts.

C. It enhances human sensory capabilities. D. It employs more senses in its application.

2. Why is IR 5.0 called the Cognitive Age？

A. AI collects and interprets data itself. B. AI turns written texts into voice.

C. AI understands written language well. D. AI has an ability of expressing emotions.

3. How do some colleges address IR 5.0？

A. By offering related courses. B. By expecting more industrial revolutions.

C. By applying AI to the technological trade. D. By preparing for the rapid economic changes.

4. What can be the best title for the text？

A. AI Is Approaching Us Gradually B. A New IR Is About Machine Learning

C. AI Has Developed Its Own Senses D. We Are Entering IR 5.0 Now

阅读七选五

Passage 1

We’ve been test-driving some new cars recently. I appreciate the clean and simple design inside. For some reasons， many car makers have been shifted from physical controls to touch screens. 1 Instead of lots of physical buttons， you have a single touch screen. You can use it to move between the different controls.

The touch screen is a single system for many controls in your car. So simple？ Actually， not simple at all. 2 It will always be more challenging to use. It will likely take more time to use for each function. Worse still， the touch screen may also put you at greater risk of being in an accident.

In a car with buttons and other physical controls， you can often perform the same tasks without looking. 3 And you most likely receive physical feedback through your fingers letting you know you’ve succeeded. Buttons are probably faster than touch screens. With a button， you reach over and easily get your fingers on it.

Some cars with touch screen controls can respond to voice commands. 4 " If you’ve ever asked your phone to do something， you know there are still challenges in speech recognition.

However， if you need to use the touch screen to control systems in your car， I have a few suggestions. 5 If you have a passenger， let that person control the touch screen. Always keep your eyes on the road instead of the fancy screen.

A. But this also means extra steps for each action.

B. The touch screen is far more complex than buttons.

C. New cars are often completely touch screen-controlled.

D. Physical controls have great advantages over touch screens.

E. You know when your hand is in the right place to use the controls.

F. Get your basic setup running before your car is running down the road.

G. They may be effective， but many also require multiple attempts to work.

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Passage 2

Scientists help to explain how the world around us works， and carry out experiments to create new things. To become a scientist， you need a college degree and various professional skills." 1

Understand scientists’ description and responsibilities. Scientists are responsible for examining and exploring different aspects of the physical world. All their exploration processes are done by following a set of rules known as the scientific method." 2 Of course， they also have different specific work responsibilities. If you want to be a scientist in a certain field， you need to continue to have a deep understanding of professional work responsibilities.

3 The influence of every profession is double-sided. As a scientist， it may bring you some achievements and benefits， but it also has some professional disadvantages. So before you want to be a scientist， you should have a detailed understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of scientists.

Go through college." 4 Overall studying is important to become a professional scientist. You can learn all kinds of related knowledge systematically at college and lay a solid foundation for your future career.

Get internship （实习） opportunities. Try to find part-time jobs during the university period. In this way， you can obtain real work experience while studying， which is very valuable for you and will definitely be helpful for your real career in the future." 5 When you find a relevant scientist job， apply for it.

A scientist’s career path is often the result of a series of chance meetings， unexpected events and changes in personal circumstances. You should not be afraid to follow your own unique route.

A. Try to avoid the influence of others.

B. Next， you will have detailed information.

C. So make use of your rich experience if any.

D. Think about whether it is worthwhile to be a scientist.

E. You can find such chances through special part-time websites.

F. Scientists in different fields may specialize in different subjects.

G. Systematic learning in university is the basis of becoming a scientist.

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完形填空

Passage 1

A 71-year-old Swedish man “can’t put into words” how thankful he is for the new technology that saved him from sudden cardiac arrest （心搏骤停）.

The 1 occurred while he was clearing snow in his 2 . In such situations people 3 have about ten minutes to 4 help， but ambulance response times are often too long to save a patient’s life.

Luckily， an 5 call for emergency service was made， and the man lived in a region that had partnered with an innovative 6 program called EMADE.

EMADE drones （无人机） swiftly delivered an automated external defibrillator （AED）， a device to save a person’s life during a sudden cardiac arrest， to the 7 —and the time from the alarm to the safe 8 of the AED was just over three minutes.

9 ， a doctor drove by. “I was on my way to work at the local hospital when I noticed a man 10 in his driveway and I immediately rushed to help，” says Dr Mustafa Ali. “The man had no pulse （脉搏）， so I started 11 CPR while asking another man to call the ambulance. Just minutes later， I 12 something flying above me—it was a drone carrying an AED！”

After receiving on-site treatment， the patient was 13 to the hospital upon the arrival of the ambulance.

“This is a truly 14 technology that needs to be established everywhere，” said the patient who now has made a full 15 and returned home. “If it weren’t for the drone， I probably wouldn’t be here.”

1. A. change B. conflict C. incident D. campaign

2. A. garden B. backyard C. field D. driveway

3. A. quickly B. gradually C. exactly D. usually

4. A. seek B. offer C. need D. refuse

5. A. influential B. immediate C. impressive D. inspiring

6. A. energy-efficient B. life-saving C. cost-effective D. family-centered

7. A. hospital B. ambulance C. scene D. room

8. A. storage B. purchase C. delivery D. return

9. A. On purpose B. By chance C. Without delay D. In fact

10. A. rested B. waved C. struggled D. collapsed

11. A. learning B. performing C. explaining D. teaching

12. A. noticed B. imagined C. remembered D. missed

13. A. rushed B. called C. guided D. dragged

14. A. global B. realistic C. popular D. useful

15. A. report B. inquiry C. recovery D. preparation

Passage 2

What would happen if a human brain was connected to a powerful computer？ That is what Kevin Warwick， a professor at the University of Reading， UK， 1 to find out. “I want to have a go at exploring what it means to 2 ，” he says.

Soon he will have an 3 . A glass tube will be placed around a group of nerves （神经） in his arm. Inside the tube there will be tiny computer circuits. These will 4 messages being sent to the brain and send them to a computer.

“Pain provides a clear electronic signal on the nervous system as it moves from its 5 of origin to the brain. We want to find out what happens if that signal is sent to the computer and then played back again. Will I feel the 6 pain？” says Kevin Warwick.

It is not just about 7 . The human nervous system sends a wide variety of other messages to the brain， which could have many different 8 . The computer could provide the eyes for a blind person. Anxious or depressed people are often given drugs to make them feel 9 . But what if they could download feelings of happiness directly into their minds？ Imagine you are thousands of miles away from your loved ones. You love them and 10 to be back with them. Then you store these 11 on a computer and send them to your family as an e-mail.

Professor Warwick believes that the success of his new experiment could benefit human beings in many ways. A human will be one 12 to use the memory and mathematical power of the computer. He or she will be able to communicate thoughts and feelings 13 across the planet using the Internet. Humans have used their intelligence to create increasingly intelligent 14 . Has the time now come for the two to 15 together？

1. A. manages B. helps C. intends D. promises

2. A. computers B. humans C. plants D. technologies

3. A. operation B. adjustment C. assessment D. examination

4. A. give off B. take over C. make up D. pick up

5. A. level B. space C. moment D. point

6. A. awful B. usual C. same D. slight

7. A. signals B. pain C. brain D. messages

8. A. explanations B. applications C. methods D. problems

9. A. better B. stronger C. wiser D. worse

10. A. prefer B. agree C. long D. refuse

11. A. feelings B. greetings C. requests D. memories

12. A. able B. willing C. born D. afraid

13. A. regularly B. separately C. directly D. nervously

14. A. systems B. machines C. websites D. bodies

15. A. learn B. meet C. develop D. join

语法填空

Passage 1

Many quick service restaurant owners are looking ahead to a future where automation will play an important role. They believe it will be the key to greatly 1 （increase） their thin profits and allow their workers to shine in the tasks no machine can do.

Many people are afraid of being replaced by a robot. But the 2 （smart） and most creative robotic companies are creating intelligent machines that work alongside workers to make efficiency and profits increase 3 （dramatic）. Take Flippy， the arm-like robotic kitchen assistant 4 an example. It turns burgers over， cooking them to 5 （perfect）， and lets its co-workers know the orders are ready. Not competing for people’s jobs， such robots 6 （design） to be cooperative ones， the cost-effective machines created to work with humans， not against them.

Quick service restaurants with tools like Flippy are the kind of places 7 you keep coming back—you know the staff will always have time to give you 8 answer to your detailed question and you will have your order on time， perfectly cooked.

Automation in restaurants will become even more crucial in the future. Owners then 9 （need） workers to enforce updated safety regulations （规章） and interact with 10 （dissatisfy） guests. With Flippy having their back in the kitchen， they won’t have to worry about burnt burgers.

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Passage 2

Technology is changing the face of the world， and now faces are changing technology too. Facial recognition technology， 1 its capacity to analyse a huge amount of data， has come into widespread use. It works by comparing the facial features of 2 （give） images with what are in a database. In theory， networks which use our own body as passwords should be 3 （safe） from hackers （黑客） and better protect us from identity theft than those who use traditional passwords. This technology is especially useful in public places： banks， airports and railway stations， etc.

However， facial recognition technology has also started to pose some difficult questions. Experts have been giving 4 （warn） about this technology， saying it may not be as good as we think. Facial expressions often vary， 5 （make） facial recognition less 6 （effect）. Moreover， there is growing concern 7 we might fall victim to this technology， as there are cases in which hackers have broken into facial recognition systems by using people’s social media photos 8 （build） models of their faces.

Scientists and engineers 9 （urge） by common people to improve existing technology and make it fail-safe in recent years. Apparently， this will be a tough task. 10 happens， we need to make sure that facial recognition technology can be trusted—or we will have to face the consequences.

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应用文写作

你校将举办英语征文比赛。请你以“The Impact of Technology on Our Lives”为题写一篇短文投稿，内容包括：

1. 分析利弊；

2. 你的看法。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

The Impact of Technology on Our Lives

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