Jim is an English boy. He is twelve. He lives with his1 in China. There are four 2 in his family. They are his father Bill, his 3 Cindy and his little sister Abbey. He 4 a yellow dog. Its name is Barbie. Look, Abbey is playing5 Barbie. His father is mending (修) his car. His mother is cleaning the house. What is Jim doing? Ah, he6 his homework in Chinese. He can't speak Chinese very 7 , but he loves 8 very much. Jim's father 9 in a middle school. He is an English teacher. His mother is in a TV factory. Jim and his sister 10 to the same school.
Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to connect the brain with computers. Braincomputer Interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send orders to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, showed a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory (实验室), Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
"Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles (肌肉) to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord damage or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles." Tavella says. "Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outer world and also to control devices (装置).
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer analyzes the signals and orders the smart wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that sense objects on its way. They help the computer respond to orders from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that analyzes brain signals and turns them into simple orders. "The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two types: communication, and controlling devices. One example is this wheelchair."
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology which is good for them. And the other is to make sure that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
| There is a town near Suzhou. It is very interesting and beautiful. This is Luxiang, an old town. Luxiang was built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127—1279). There were many famous people living in the town at that time. There are around 30 old buildings of the Ming and Qing (1368—1911) dynasties now. People live a simple life. Six lanes (巷) in the town go to Lake Tai. Luxiang looks more beautiful in spring, with many tea trees and fruit gardens. This place is famous for the tea called Biluochun. |
| The Egyptian pyramids were built around 2560 B.C. The largest one of them is the Great Pyramid of Giza. The king, Khufu, built it as his tomb. The Great Pyramid of Giza was considered a unique building in the 19th century A.D. At that time, it was still the tallest in the world. According to scientific research, Khufu ordered his men to build it stone by stone. The biggest stone was 15 tons, and each stone was fixed so well. The Great Pyramid of Giza has four sides and each side is 227 meters long and 136.5 meters high. At that time, there were no modern machines or equipment, so how did the ancient Egyptians build it? To this day, it is still a mystery. |
It was Friday morning. Ana hurried through her breakfast and then ran to get dressed. It was dark in her bedroom. She put on a dress and ran to say goodbye to her mom.
Her mother looked surprised, but Ana didn't have time to ask why. She got to the bus stop just in time to catch the school bus.
As she got on, she noticed her reflection (影像) in the window. "Oh, no!" she thought. "Whose dress is this? How did I put it on?" She went to sit with two of her friends at the back of the bus.
"Hi, Ana. What are you wearing?" asked Mel.
Ana looked down at her dress and said, "Well, you see…I was rushing because I was late and the room was still quite dark. It must be my mom's, I guess."
The dress was very bright. Dark colours like black, grey and dark blue were fashionable. It was sky blue. It had big orange flowers all over it.
"I can't go to school looking like this!" cried Ana.
"You have to, Ana. There's a math test, remember." said Susan.
When Ana walked into the classroom, Monica saw her and started laughing. Monica was the most popular girl in school and always dressed in the latest fashion.
"Hey, Ana, where did you get that?" She shouted and all the other kids turned to look at Ana.
The question made Ana angry. "In fact," Ana said, "I got it in the city. It's the new fashion. I'm surprised you didn't know that, Monica."
Monica didn't say anything else. And the class began.
When Ana went back home, she asked her mom about the dress. Her mother said with a smile, "It's an old dress I wore in the 1980s, long before you were born. That was the style back then."
"Well, it isn't the style now. Everyone laughed at me today. I'm never going to school again."
"I'm sorry you were embarrassed (尴尬的). But you have to go to school on Monday. No one will remember what you wore today."
On Monday morning, when Ana got to school, she noticed some girls were wearing brightly coloured dresses, including Monica.
When you are a teenager it seems that every time you say. "I want to…", your parents answer, "No, you can't". Teenagers often think they should be allowed to make their own decisions, .
Li Hai, a 15-year-old boy from Huarong, is a middle school student. He is often late for school because he stays up too late. Unless he arrives at school on time, he will be punished by his teacher. Also, Li Hai thinks that he should be allowed to watch TV and play computer games as much as he wants. If his parents refuse his requirements (要求), "Maybe my son thinks the family rules are too strict or unfair." says Mrs Li, "But we think we're doing the right thing. We expect him to get into a good university." Li Hai is always asking, "Could you make the bed for me?" or "Could you help me to sweep the floor?" His parents insist doing chores with him every weekend. Gradually he realizes the importance of doing housework. Sometimes he helps his mother with housework. These days, Li Hai knows his parents care about him and he must follow these strict family rules. Only then will he have a chance to become a better teenager.
A.Li Hai needs to spend more time on his study. B.He likes doing housework. C.His parents always ask him to go to bed early and have enough sleep. D.He thinks doing housework is a waste of time. E.Li Hai feels lonely and nervous at home. F.he will argue with his father or mother. G.but their parents may worry about children's development. |
A: Hello, this is Renmin Opera House.
B: Oh, hi. Do you still have tickets for the piano concert tonight?
A: One moment, please. Uh, yes, there are a few left.
B: That's great!
A: At 7:30.
B: How long will it last?
A: It will last about two hours.
B: Sounds great. Can I book (预订) one ticket now?
A: Yes.
B: Well, but how can I do it?
A: Just go to our website, fill in your information, choose a seat and pay online.
B: Sounds easy.
A: At the gate at least half an hour before the show starts.
B:
A: You're welcome.
A.When will it start? B.You can book it on our website. C.What can I do for you? D.Enjoy yourself. E.Where can I get the ticket? F.Thank you for your help. G.It's wonderful. |
Drug (毒品) use in Britain has increased by 30% in the last five years. Use of hard drugs, for example, cocaine (可卡因) and crack cocaine, is increasing as a result of these drugs becoming cheaper and easier to buy.
Young people in Britain are more likely than other Europeans to take illegal (非法的) drugs. UK teenagers are taking up to five times more illegal drugs, for example, ecstasy tablets (摇头丸) and cannabis (大麻制品), than in other European countries. The most common drug for UK teenagers is cannabis. Over 35% of 15 to 16-year-olds say they have tried it. Harder drugs such as crack cocaine are less common. As many as one in twelve 12-year-olds have taken drugs.
British law puts drugs into three groups, from the most dangerous Class A drugs to the least addictive (使人上瘾的) Class C drugs:
● Class A: hard drugs, for example, crack cocaine;
● Class B: for example, ecstasy tablets;
● Class C: "soft" drugs, for example, cannabis, which are also addictive and dangerous.
In the UK there are possibly 500,000 Class A drug users. As a result, the UK spends ￡390 million a year on treatment centers to fight drug use. Treatment centers spend more than ￡3,000 to help every drug user. But only 3,800 drug users a year successfully go through the drug treatment.
Teenagers gave the following reasons in order of importance:
● to copy their friends and to look cool;
● so as to have a good time and to feel good;
● in order to see what it is like and to experience something new;
● so as to be like adults, but to be different from their parents;
● because the drugs are cheap and easy to buy;
● because they have nothing better to do with their time.
"What's the right weight for my height?" is one of the most common questions girls and guys have. It seems like a s question. But for teens, it's not always an easy one to answer. Not everyone grows and develops on the same schedule.
TV shows, movies, and magazines show pictures of people who are thin. Does that m being thin is the best? Maybe not.
People come in all d shapes and sizes, and the best weight for you is one that is r for your body type and size. It can be unhealthy to be too thin if you are eating l food than your body needs. Eating enough food is like putting gas in your car—if you run out of gas it s working!
Being overweight is not good e . Kids who are overweight may not be getting the right nutrition (营养). Eating all kinds of h foods, including fruits and vegetables, is the best way to go.
Everyone needs to eat a healthy, balanced d to grow, to do well in school, and just to feel good. So read on to f out how you'll know what the right weight is for you.
