Every time we get behind the wheel of a car, we pt our lives and the lives of others at risk. Self-driving cars are designed to reduce those risks by letting technology control our vehicles.
Accident rates for self-driving cars have been much lower than the rate, for human-driven cars. 1.
As humans, we can make moral choices in avoiding accidents. To avoid hitting a child, for example, human drivers might sharply turn a car away from the child even if others may be injured. 2. Researchers studied this issue. They have developed the Moral Machine website to help explore the choices self-driving cars should make.
3. . You are shown two possible traffic situations and you choose between them. An accident will take place. You choose how many living beings would be hurt or killed.
In one situation there may be a female doctor, a child, two dogs and a homeless person who would be killed. In the other situation, you might have two babies and a cat who would be killed. 4.
The Moral Machine website has many situations and many possible outcomes. When you click on the situation of your choice, it will be highlighted. 5. At the end of the situation, you are shown the results, based on the choices you made. The results show which character you were most likely to save and which character you were most likely to have die.
A. Who should those victims be?
B. Then the next situation appears.
C. You choose who lives and who dies.
D. You can use the Moral Machine to be the judge.
E. But what moral choices can self-driving cars make?
F. The Moral Machine website lets you choose how you would react in a collision.
G. Google’s self-driving car has had only 13 collisions after traveling 1.8 million miles.
A new American weather satellite could save more lives by better predicting extreme weather conditions. It will be in orbit(轨道）some 36,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA, has been working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the project.
NOAA officials are calling the new satellite GOES-R. That is short for a much longer name—the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series. NOAA said GOES-R could improve the nation's ability to observe weather conditions and make weather predictions. It said the satellite's operation would lead to more exact and timely weather forecasts watches and warnings.
The government agency said the satellite will require testing of its six instruments and will be ready to work “within a year."
"The next generation of weather satellites is finally here." said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan. She described GOES-R as one of the most complicated Earth-observing machines ever created. Sullivan said its instruments will be able to study Earth five times faster and with four times more detail than any other NOAA satellite currently in operation. She believes this will make the United States an even stronger, more “Weather-Ready" nation.
A NOAA statement said the greater detail will help improve the agency’s study of ocean storms, as well as “the prediction and warnings of severe weather. "In addition, GOES-R will be able to provide improved rainfall estimates (预计), which will lead to more timely and detailed flood warning. The statement also said that GOES-R will give better estimates of wind strength, as well as better measurement of fog, ice or lightning strikes.
Craig Fugate serves as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He says that the GOES-R satellite will improve the ability of people and organizations across America to prepare for, and react to, weather-related disasters.
1.What’s the purpose of this new American satellite?
A. To test new instruments. B. To improve people’s lives.
C. To forecast weather disasters. D. To replace old weather satellites.
2.What benefit will the U. S.
A. get from the satellite’s operation?
A. The advantages to own the most advanced technology.
B. More accurate and timely weather information.
C. The ability to monitor the earth from high space.
D. More powerful ability to control the weather.
3.What do you know about the satellite from Paragraph 5?
A. Which aspects the satellite can improve.
B. When the satellite can find severe weather.
C. How the satellite helps to study the oceans.
D. How long the satellite forsees a weather disaster.
4.Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Weather Predictions Expected to Improve with New U. S. Satellite.
B. Fighting Disasters Needs More Exact Weather Predictions.
C. New Science and Technology Used in New Weather Satellite.
D. American Weather Prediction Takes a Lead in the World.
In France, a man walks on what can only be described as a human-sized hamster wheel. The wheel moves around and around, as the man keeps walking. What is he doing? He is lifting a heavy object to the top of a tower the same way workers moved such objects 800 years ago.
In the 13th century, workers did not have the 100-meter tall cranes they now use to build tall buildings. So they had to be creative and come up with simple machines to get their work done.
The man on the large wheel is walking at a reasonable speed. The wheel turns and pulls a rope connected to a pulley(滑轮)at the top of the tower. Another rope tied to the pulley lifts supplies from the ground.
This is just one way skilled craftsmen arc building a 13th-century castle without using modern tools. Crew have been working on the castle since 1997. It is being built in the Burgundy area of central France. Organizers expect the work to last another 10 to 15 years. That means it will take close to 30 years to finish the project.
The crew are making progress at about half the speed of the workers from 800 years ago. That is because many of them are accustomed to using modern tools. When the crew use heavy chisels(凿子）and hammers to break rock, as they did hundreds of years ago, they are learning as they go. The goal of the project is to learn more about old building techniques in case they might be of use today.
Clement Guerard, 44,is a stonemason; he cuts and builds with stone. He has been working on the tower for 17 years. He said one way he is able to work on something like this for so long is by forgetting “some of the pace of modern life", he is able to adapt to working by hand.
1.Why is the man walking in the wheel?
A. To draw the attention of passers-by. B. To act as an ancient building worker.
C. To test an ancient machine for building. D. To raise building materials to the building top.
2.What makes the project last so long?
A. The quality it requires. B. The ancient way to built it.
C. Its huge size. D. Its great height.
3.What’s the purpose of building the tower in the ancient way?
A. To build a unique ancient building. B. To copy a famous ancient building.
C. To master ancient building techniques. D. To experience ancient way of building.
4.Why has Clement Guerard worked such a long time for the tower?
A. He in used to doing handwork. B. He can get a steady income.
C. He forgets how to do other jobs. D. He likes building ancient buildings.
Today I went to Berkeley, near our old neighborhood. I was a bit surprised by the increased number of homeless (alternatively housed) people walking around. I remember there are more in certain areas. So the first man who asked me for money got all my single bills. So when the second man asked me two minutes later, I said I was out because I gave all I had to the previous person.
I was headed to the grocery store for a coffee and after I left the store I walked out to find him as he had asked me for something because he was hungry and I invited him to go into the grocery store with me.
When I asked him what he wanted to eat, he just asked for vegetable and rice. He talked about how much better the vegetables were as we waited for our number to be called. While we waited he told me that he had slept outside last night on the sidewalk, that it was not good, and that he had come from Rwanda and was alone.
He was a gentleman. When I asked if he wanted more he said, this bowl of food would last him the whole day.
I don’t know what his circumstances were before he came to California, and wandering and begging on the streets could somehow be better because you just never know what had happened to him. He seemed like a kind soul who just needed some help like we all do. I am grateful I did a little to help him today.
1.Why did the author fail to give the second homeless man money?
A. He kept some money for others. B. He spent all his money shopping.
C. He didn’t take any money that day. D. He donated all her small money to the first man.
2.What does the underlined word“ it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A. He was alone. B. He waited for his food.
C. He slept on the sidewalk. D. He was offered food.
3.How did the author feel about the homeless man?
A. Understandable. B. Pitiful.
C. Hopeless. D. Strange.
Every four years on November 8, the American people will vote for the next U. S. president. Before election day, people following the presidential campaign will see many polls (民调). A poll is a public opinion study. Research organizations ask people questions about the candidates to find out who they support.
For example, one of the poll is run by a professor at a university in the U.S. state of Connecticut. People who work for the polling service call likely voters on the telephone.
How can one poll be so different from others? Here are some things to remember when you are looking at polls:
Not all polling groups are the same
Some polls target specific groups of people. Many polls make sure they collect many different opinions. Sometimes, however, polling organizations receive money from groups that support a specific political issue. It is important to look at which group carried out the poll along with the results.
A poll's method is important
Some polls are using new technology. Traditionally, polls are done over the phone. But that is slowly changing. Many polls are now done online. While online polls can produce good information, it is sometimes hard to reach as many different types of people over the Internet.
Also important the size of the poll. Try to find out how many people were polled before believing its results.
Polls are not predictions(预测)
Polls only show how people feel at one moment in time. They do not show what will happen in the future. Public opinion may change before the general election on November 8. Some things that could change the opinions of voters include: the debates on television, the release of the candidates’ tax or medical records, and unexpected illnesses.
1.What do political polls in the U. S. try to do?
A. Call on people to be active in the election.
B. Help political parties to win the election.
C. Find out the support rate in the election.
D. Affect people's opinions in the election.
2.What do you know about polling organizations?
A. Some serve for certain groups. B. They all collect different opinions.
C. They all make money from their polls. D. All of them try to find the correct results.
3.What is the disadvantage of polls done online?
A. People may refuse to respond. B. Results sometimes lack of representation.
C. Only the young give their ideas. D. People refuse to tell their true thoughts.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Effects of Political Polls in the U. S..
B. Various Kinds of Political Polls in the U. S..
C. Ways to Carry Out Political Polls in the U. S..
D. Things to Know About Political Polls in the U. S..
Mary是—位美国中学音乐老师，一直喜欢中国音乐。她下个月要为在暑假到中国游学音乐的中学生作—个关于中国古典音乐的讲座，但她在短时间内无法找到足够的资料，于是就给她的中国网友李华发邮件求助。请你以Mary的名义，用英语给李华写一封邮件。
要求：
1.词数：l00词左右；
2.文中不能出现自己的姓名和所在学校的名称；
3.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
4.参考词汇：古典：classical。
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