Inventors are always looking for ways to make our lives easier, greener and a whole lot more fun. Take a look at the following breakthroughs in science and technology. What in the world will inventors dream up next?
Superhero Suit
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superhero? Dream no more. There’s a real Iron Man suit, XOS 2, which instantly transforms the person wearing it. The suit provides the power to lift 200 pounds with ease and break slabs（厚片）of wood with a single karate chop. It was designed to help the military with heavy lifting. One person in the suit could do the work of three soldiers.
Up, Up and Away!
It took him 30 years to develop it, and now Glen Martin’s invention is ready to take off. The Martin Jetpack allows its operator to fly 8,000 feet into the air. Unfortunately, you can’t soar through the skies too long. The jetpack holds only 30 minutes’ worth of fuel. The aircraft will sell for $100,000.
Hardworking Robot
The EMIEW2 robot is the perfect office helper. Need a document delivered? No problem! It can also guide visitors to their destinations. The three-foot-tall robot can identify different human voices and respond to commands. One day, it may serve as a receptionist or a security guard.
Green Machine
Say goodbye to gasoline! The AirPod car runs on air power. That means this car won’t pollute the environment. A high-pressure air tank can fill the car in minutes. The three-wheeler can travel about 130 miles between fill-ups.
Beef Power
All aboard the beef train! Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer runs partly on fuel that is made from cow fat. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 10%. The train travels between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas.
Robo-Guard
EMILY is a robotic, four-foot-long buoy (救生圈). She can swim through riptides (激流) at up to 24 miles per hour. Her inventor, Tony Mulligan, says that’s 15 times as fast as human lifeguards! EMILY is powered by a tiny electric pump and operated by remote control.
1.What is the disadvantage of Glen Martin’s invention?
A．It uses large amounts of fuel. B．It only flies at low altitudes.
C．It needs a big landing field. D．It has a small gas tank.
2.Which of the following inventions may be popular with modern companies?
A．The EMIEW2 robot. B．EMILY.
C．XOS 2. D．The Martin Jetpack.
3.How many environment-friendly inventions are mentioned in the passage?
A．One. B．Two. C．Three. D．Four.
4.From the passage we learn that __________.
A．the Superhero Suit is designed for fun
B．the EMIEW2 robot can tell different human voices
C．Robo-Guard may serve as a security guard
D．the AirPod car travels far with a little gas
Robert Spring, a 19th century forger (伪造签字者), was as good at his profession that he was able to make his living for 15 years by selling false signatures of famous Americans. Spring was born in England in 1813 and arrived in Philadelphia in 1858 to open a bookstore. At first he make some money by selling his small but genuine of early U.S. autographs (亲笔签字). Discovering his ability at copying handwriting, he began imitating signatures of George Washington and Ban Franklin and writing them on the title pages of old books. To make less the chance of detection (发觉), he sent his forgeries (伪造物) to England and Canada for sale and circulation (销售).
Forgers have a hard time selling their products. A forger can't approach a respectable buyer but must deal with people who don't have much knowledge in the field. Forgers have many ways to make their work look real. For example, they buy old books to use the aged paper of the title page, and they can treat paper and ink with chemicals.
In Spring's time, right after the Civil War, Britain was still fond of the Southern states, so Spring invented a respectable maiden lady known as Miss Fanny Jackson, the only daughter of General "Stonewall" Jackson. For several years Miss Fanny's economic problems forced her to sell a great number of letters and manuscripts belonging to her famous father. Spring had to work very hard to satisfy the demand. All this activity did not prevent Spring from dying in poverty, leaving sharp-eye experts the difficult task of separating this forgeries from the originals.
1.Why did Spring sell his autographs in England and Canada?
A．There was a greater demand there than in America.
B．There was less chance of being detected there.
C．Britain was Spring's birthplace.
D．The price were higher in England and Canada.
2.After the Civil War, there was a great demand in Britain for _______.
A．Southern money
B．signatures of George Washington and Ben Franklin
C．Southern manuscripts and letters
D．Civil War battle plans
3.Robert Spring spent 15 years _______.
A．running a bookstore in Philadelphia
B．corresponding with Miss Fanny Jackson
C．as a forger
D．as a respectable dealer
4.According to the passage, forgeries are usually sold to _______.
A．sharp-eyed experts B．persons who aren't experts
C．book dealers D．owner of the old books
5.Who was Miss Fanny Jackson?
A．The only daughter of General "Stonewall" Jackson.
B．A little-known girl who sold her father's papers to Robert Spring.
C．Robert Spring's daughter.
D．An imaginary person created by Spring.
Despite the great progress in medical science, human beings are constantly attacked by cancer, which means death. A woman named Bonnie suffered a 36 of discomforts caused by the treatment of cancer. She didn’t regard cancer as a 37 disease, but a laughing matter. She treated it in a humorous way. To put it in 38 way, she is teaching people that even though cancer isn't 39 , we can treat it in a humorous way.
Her second child was going to be born three months away 40 she was diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly, a 41 mother turned into a helpless woman afraid for her own 42 . It was after she had had her baby 43 that she had an operation. 44 came chemo（化疗）and her life seemed to be made up of fears and 45 . But the 46 moment in her life came after she lost all her hair and a free wig(假发) arrived. She 47 it on as her older son Kyler watched.
“That was when I decided how to 48 it: crying over this bad wig or laughing about it. 49 way would make 50 remember it.” Bonnie said. She spent a lot of time looking for anything funny from cancer patients. She got a lot out of collecting 51 stories. She started laughing a lot, finding it the perfect medicine. Using herself as a bald (光头) model, Bonnie 52 to design her own greeting cards and calendars, making fun of the sufferings of chemo.
"To have joy, we badly 53 to laugh," she said.
Clearly, you can increase your confidence to 54 over any disease and trouble 55 laughing.
1. A．set B．way C．series D．pack
2. A．deadly B．seriously C．terribly D．fearfully
3. A．the other B．another C．other D．others
4. A．serious B．painful C．fierce D．fun
5. A．before B．when C．while D．until
6. A．happy B．sad C．fortunate D．sick
7. A．son B．illness C．life D．operation
8. A．made B．delivered C．attended D．opened
9. A．Here B．Later C．Thus D．Then
10. A．failures B．loneliness C．tears D．wonders
11. A．highest B．lowest C．great D．ugly
12. A．wore B．carried C．fastened D．tried
13. A．deal with B．do with C．go with D．meet with
14. A．All B．Any C．Either D．Both
15. A．myself B．my son C．everyone D．my husband
16.A. detective B romantic C. humorous D. different
17. A．set out B．get down C．set about D．set down
18. A．need B．ought C．want D．long
19. A．think B．get C．run D．take
20.
A．in terms of B．by the way of
C．through the method of D．by means of
Bob could have seen the famous pop star ______ yesterday morning.
A．did he come B．if he came C．had he come D．if he should come
–– It is ridiculous that John wants to make academic progress but never devotes any time to it.
––– Maybe it’s time for him to know______.
A．heaven never helps the man who will not act
B．he who makes constant complaint gets little compassion.
C．hope for the best, but prepare for the worst
D．It is easy to be wise after the event.
---What about your adventure in the forest last week?
---Wonderful! I didn’t expect there ______ so many lovely monkeys.
A．to be B．being C．of being D．be
