The brain of an insect isn’t very big. But insects are somehow still able to make lots of important decisions. Bees, ants and roaches(蟑螂) build hives with thousands of workers doing specialized work. The jobs are done without a head or even a plan. How do insects manage this?
To solve the mystery, scientists in Belgium spent months building robotic roaches and then putting them among real roaches. The final goal of the research is to find out how the simple behavior of individuals gives rise to a collective(集體的) decision. The roach is a good starting point for trying to answer the big question because its social system is simple enough for scientists to study.
The first step was to build robots that real roaches would accept as their own. Although the robotic roaches don’t look much like the real thing, they have similarities with them in three key ways: they naturally head toward dark areas, they are influenced by the behavior of other roaches, and even more importantly, they smell like roaches.
The next step was getting the robotic and real roaches to work together on common tasks. In experiments, the robots would collectively head towards a dark place, copying the behavior of natural roaches. That got the researchers wondering: if you program the robotic roaches to go toward the lighted place, will the real roaches follow, going against their natural instincts.(本能) ?
They will – it turned out. Many of the real roaches followed the robots to a lighter shelter. But influence turned out to be a two- way street. On occasion, the real roaches were able to override the programming of the robot roaches and get them to turn into dark hiding places. Being social creatures, both the robotic and natural roaches were paying attention to and following the example set by others.
In theory, it would be possible to create a robot that could influence collective decision-making in humans. To do this, researchers would have to invent a robot that people would accept. Fortunately, the technology isn’t there yet.
69. Why do scientists choose the roaches to study?
A. Their social system is simple               
B. They are social creatures.
C. They are able to build their hives quite well.   
D. It is easy to create robotic ones.
70. The robotic roaches are accepted by real ones because of all the following EXCEPT that ______ .
A. they smell like real ones          B. they look exactly like real ones
C. what they do are somewhat influenced by other roaches
D. they naturally head toward dark areas
71. What’s the author’s attitude to creating a robot that would influence collective decision-making in humans?
A. Uninterested           B. Positive       
C. Negative              D. Doubtful
72. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage ?
A. Scientists’ Research                   B. Robotic Roaches
C. Amazing Insects                      D. Insects’ Social System

小題1:A
小題2:B
小題3:C
小題4:B
         
練習冊系列答案
相關(guān)習題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

Do you know  21 languages there are in the world? There are about 1500, but many of them aren’t very  22  . English is one of the most important languages because many people 23  it, not only in England and America,  24  in other countries of world. About 375000000 people speak it  25  their own language, and another 375000000 use it as 26  language. It is 27  to say how many people are learning it.  28  boys and girls in schools are trying to do so.
Many English children study French. French is also a very important language.  29  children study German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
What is the best  30  to learn a language? We know that we all learnt  31  language well when we were 32  . If  we learn a second language in the  33  way, it won’t seem so difficult. What does a small child do? It  34  what people say, and it tries to guess what it hears. When it wants something, it has to 35  it. It is using the language, 36  in it and talking in it all the time. If people use a second language  37  , they will learn it 38  .
In school, you learn to read, to write, to hear and to speak. It is best to learn all new words
through the  39  .You can read them, spell them and  40 them later.
小題1:
A.how manyB.what numberC.a(chǎn) lot ofD.so many
小題2:
A.usefulB.necessaryC.importantD.good
小題3:
A.likeB.useC.learnD.speak
小題4:
A.butB.a(chǎn)ndC.a(chǎn)lsoD.so
小題5:
A.likeB.withC.forD.a(chǎn)s
小題6:
A.foreignB.a(chǎn) secondC.the secondD.a(chǎn) special
小題7:
A.easyB.a(chǎn)gainC.difficultD.best
小題8:
A.Millions ofB.Million ofC.MillionsD.Several million of
小題9:
A.SomeB.OtherC.AllD.Few
小題10:
A.timeB.wayC.thingD.place
小題11:
A.a(chǎn) foreignB.our mothers’C.other’sD.our own
小題12:
A.bornB.childrenC.grownD.boys
小題13:
A.sameB.differentC.usefulD.good
小題14:
A.doesB.saysC.listens toD.follows
小題15:
A.a(chǎn)skB.wantC.getD.a(chǎn)sk for
小題16:speaking                   B. writing                     C. thinking                   D. doing
小題17:
A.some timeB.sometimesC.a(chǎn)ll the sameD.for the time
小題18:
A.quicklyB.soonC.freelyD.hardly
小題19:
A.mouthB.handsC.earsD.mind
小題20:
A.listen toB.useC.loveD.write

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Computer programmer David Jones earned $ 150,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank prepared to let him have a check card (信用卡). Instead, he has been told to wait another two years until he is 18.
He works for a small firm in Liverpool, where most young people of his age are finding jobs. David”s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Though he has high payment, he cannot drive a car, or get credit cards.(信用卡)
David got his job four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-Levels(普通成績) and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs,” he said.
“I suppose $150,000 sounds a lot but I hope it will come to more than that this year.” He spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother $20 a week as he lives with his parents. But most of his spare time is spent working.
“Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “ But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway. I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement(退休) is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear.
11. why is David so different from other young people of his age?
A .He has got a job.                                   B. He lives at home with his parents
C .He does not get out much.               D. He earns a high payment
12. David’s greatest problem is that _____.
A. he can’t be treated as an adult (grown-up) by the bank
B. he can’t make as many games as he wishes
C .he doesn’t know what to buy with the money
D. he is too young to drive a car
13. He was employed by the company because _____
A .he had worked in a computer shop
B. he had written some computer programs
C. he is clever and works hard at his lessons
D. he had learnt computer from books and magazines
14. He left school after taking six O-Levels because ____.
A. he was afraid of getting too old to start computing               B. he didn’t enjoy school
C. he wanted to work with computers                                      D. he wanted to earn a lot of money.
15. Why does David think he might retire early?
A. He thinks computer games might not always sell so well.
B. He wants to stop working when he is a millionaire.
C. One has to be young to write computer programs
D. He thinks his firm might close down.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Read a whole book in English? Me?
Yes, you. Believe it or not, that may be easier than you think. Not all classics are too difficult or complicated. So you’re not limited to the simplified versions. And the easier books are not all for children.
Books in their original versions may send you to the dictionary. And you might not understand everything you read. But reading one from cover to cover will give you a real sense of accomplishment(成就). The key is to find the right books. Let’s take a look at these.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)
Stepping into an old wardrobe, four English schoolchildren find themselves in the magical world of Narnia. On this delightful land, they find friends among the many talking creatures. The children soon discover, however, that Narnia is ruled by the White Witch. Edmund, one of the children, falls under her power. Who can free Narnia? Only Aslan, the great and noble lion. He alone knows the Deeper Magic. But the children themselves must help fight the battle against the White Witch and those who serve her.
The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)
Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, hasn’t caught any fish in more than 80 days. Sailing far out from land, the old man hooks an enormous fish. That begins an agonizing three day battle. First he struggles against the great fish. Then he must fight off the sharks that circle the little boat and threaten to eat his fish. Exhausted and bleeding, the old man arrives back at shore. But his fish, his beautiful fish . . .
Hemingway won the Nobel Prize for this superb story of strength and courage, of victory and regret.
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine Lingle)
Meg’s father, a U.S. government scientist, has been missing for many months. He had been experimenting with time travel when he mysteriously disappeared.
Now Meg, her little brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin will try to rescue him. But first they must outwit the forces of evil they encounter(遇到) on their journey through time and space. Can they find Meg’s father before it’s too late?
This novel is more than just a science fiction adventure. It’s an exploration of the nature of our universe.
The Pearl (John Steinbeck)
One day Kino, a poor Mexican pearl diver, finds a magnificent pearl. With it he dreams of buying a better life, new clothes and schooling for his son. Instead, it brings only evil. His wife pleads with him to get rid of it. "No," says Kino. "I will have my chance. I am a man." But when he kills a man who is trying to steal the pearl, Kino and his wife must run for their lives.This tale of dreams, justice and the power of greed is told simply and beautifully.
The Long Winter (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
It’s winter, 1880—1881, on America’s northern prairies. Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls and their four girls stay near the kitchen stove to keep warm. Heavy snowstorms cut them off even from neighbors. With the trains stopped, no supplies can reach the town. Food and fuel are running out. Day after day the girls must grind wheat for bread and twist hay to burn. At times they nearly lose the battle to keep their spirits up.
This story provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of early American settlers.
63. In the passage, the author intends to _______.
A. recommend a few simplified versions of classics
B. recommend a few original versions of classics
C. tell us how to read an English book from beginning to end
D. tell us how to find proper English books to read 
64. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the White Witch is probably _____.
A. an evil woman with magic power           B. a friendly woman with magic power
C. a delightful talking creature                D. a powerful lion
65. The underlined word "outwit" in the passage probably means ______.
A. get rid of                              B. take advantage of  
C. beat by being cleverer                    D. make the most of
66. Which book deals with history?
A. The Pearl.                            B. The Old Man and the Sea.   
C. A Wrinkle in Time.                     D. The Long Winter.
67. A Wrinkle in Time is different from other books mentioned in the passage in that _____.
A. it is not a science fiction                 B. it tells a true story
C. it provides some scientific knowledge      D. it tells the battle between justice and evil

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


A youngster’s social development has a deep effect on his academic(學術(shù)的)progress. Kids who have trouble getting along with their classmates can end up behind academically as well and have a high chance of stopping attending school. In the early grades especially, experts say youngsters should be encouraged to work in groups rather than alone so that teachers can spot children who may be having problems making friends. "When children work on a project", says Lillian Kate, an educational professor at the University &Illinois, "they learn to work together, to disagree, to think, to take turns and lighten tensions These skills can’t be learned through lecture. We all know people who have wonderful technical skills but don’t have any social skills.”
At certain age, children are also learning to judge themselves in relation to others. For most children, school marks the first time that their goals are not set by a home clock but by the outside world. Just as the 1-year-old struggles to walk, the 6-year-old is struggling to meet adult expectations. Young kids don’t know how to tell effort and ability apart, says Tynette Hills, coordinator(協(xié)調(diào)員)of early-childhood education for the state of New Jersey. If they try hard to do something and fail, they may conclude that they will never be able to finish a particular task. The effects of obvious methods of comparison such as posting grades, can be serious. Says Hills, “a child who has had his confidence really damaged needs a rescue operation.”
72.The writer seems to think that a kid’s poor relationship with his classmates would _______.
A.have a lot of side effects on his study 
B、develop his independence but limit his brains
C.certainly lead to his stopping attending school  
D.have nothing to do with his progress in a course
73.The underlined word “spot” means ____________.
A.teach      B.help    C.find   D.treat
74.For most children, school makes them understand_________.
A.that social needs and their own needs have nothing in common
B.how they can meet social needs
C.that one’s effort and ability can be two quite different matters
D.that it is society not they themselves that decides their future
75.Which of the following is most unlikely for the writer to do?_______.
A.To talk to students who have mental problems
B.  To help students develop a feeling of self-respect.
C.To announce a student’s scores in public
D.To keep a student from playing alone
76.Which of the following does a student most need according to the passage? __________.
A.Independence and co-operation.
B.Academic success and independent thought.
C.Ability and self-respect.  
D.Socialization and technical skills.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

How often do you use your car? Can you use your car less often? Do you know the following facts in the UK?



? About 50% of all car journeys are just for fun.
? Over 80% people go to work by car.
? 25% car journeys are under two miles.
? 70% car journeys are under five miles.
WALKING & CYCLING
Instead of using the car for short journeys, why not walk or ride a bicycle? Walking is a most popular form of exercise—it’s healthy and it can save you money. If you work nearby, try walking or cycling instead of driving. Walking your children to school gives them valuable road experience.
BUSES
Bus companies are using new buses: some run on new fuels which produce less pollution; some have easier access for disabled and old people. There are special traffic lanes (行車道) to make bus journeys easier and more reliable. So do something to help solve the pollution problem—let the bus take you to work and your children to school.
TRAINS
All car journeys, long or short, can be hard work. For some trips it is wiser to take the train. Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or take a bus to and from the station. Train travel is fast, safe and comfortable. Train tickets are not always expensive; some are quite cheap at discount.
小題1:The writer believes that ________ can give children valuable road experience.
A.walking to schoolB.travelling by train
C.taking new fuel busesD.having car journeys for fun
小題2:What does the writer think of travelling by train?
A.Tiring.B.Comfortable.
C.Exciting.D.Awful.
小題3: What is the main purpose of this passage?
A.To advise people to use cars less often.
B.To encourage people to travel by train.
C.To teach people how to use the buses.
D.To tell people to obey traffic rules.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Wild Blue is a none-of-a-kind, geography-oriented exploration and adventure center for children aged 3 through 10.Our mission is to immerse(使沉浸于)children and their families in experiences that relate to the people,places and natural elements of the wonderful planet we live on.All our programs are developed and led by our own world-class team of explorers and educators.The following is a brief introduction to some of our classes:    
Global Kitchen
All over the world,people gather together to share meals.In this class, children will learn about the cuisine of a foreign country or region while they create a delicious snack. Recipes will be kid-friendly, and use ingredients(原料)from the country of origin.Your child will learn healthy,easy-to-create recipes he can bring home to share!
Documentary Filmmaking
This 50-minute video documentary film class is specially designed for our 6and 7 years old explorers.Classes will concentrate on the basics of visual storytelling and include subject discovery, story development, storyboard, filming,editing and presenting.Participants will work as a team to produce their own documentary, which will then be screened for friends and family at the course’s conclusion.
Exploring the Wonders of Earth
Designed specifically with our youngest explorers in mind, this semester-long program will expose your child to a wide variety of exciting scientific events that occur on our planet,from chocolate melting,to volcanoes erupting,to seeds sprouting.Through this course children will begin to develop an awareness of the science that makes the earth a marvelous place.
A World of Arts and Crafts
Whether you are seeking to simply extend your child’s time at Wild Blue or looking for a favorite pastime,we offer our own unique version of arts and crafts.Focusing on using found objects,this course encourages children to draw creative inspiration from cultures around the world.This course is available,upon request, as an additional class in your child’S schedule.
68.We can know from the passage that Wild Blue      
A.a(chǎn)ims to urge people to protect the environment
B.is specially designed for children and teens
C.focuses on the relationship between people
D.permits adults to participate in its activities
69.Children who study documentary filmmaking     .
A.a(chǎn)re supposed to work in teams
B.have to sign up with several friends
C.will learn everything about filmmaking
D.will make a documentary on their family
70.Those who take the“Exploring the Wonders of Earth” course can       .
A.learn to make chocolate
B.see volcanoes erupting in person
C.know more about exciting scientific events
D.make the world more marvelous
71.A World of Arts and Crafts is designed       .
A.for new beginners with artistic talent
B.for children to improve their drawing style
C.to help children learn about arts and cultures
D.to teach children how to spend their spare time

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Heavy snow blanketed Anhui and Hubei provinces yesterday, cutting off power to some villages and blocking roads. Meanwhile, more snow is expected to cover the south in the coming three days.
Meteorologists said that the snow, which started Sunday night, is expected to fall throughout the south until this Friday, with temperatures falling below zero. The precipitation is expected to help relieve the severe drought conditions.
The temperature in the north will rise after this Friday and the south will be warmer after Nov 22nd, forecasters predicted yesterday.
The national meteorological watchdog issued an orange alert-the second—highest level-for snowstorms yesterday morning, warning that snowfalls in some areas will reach 20 mm at most.
Snowstorms refer to snowfalls that reach 10 mm in 24 hours. Snowfalls below 10 mm and above 5 mm are called heavy snows.
Last Friday, officials from the Hubei provincial government asked the transportation department, the meteorological bureau and related departments be fully prepared for the coming snow, with an emergency team ready to provide around-the-clock assistance.
The predicted snow in the south did not bring much trouble to air and rail travel with advance preparation.
The provincial education bureau declared an emergency plan on Sunday, asking primary and high schools to close when the snowstorms become severe.
The 16 expressways in snow-hit places in Hubei were scattered with 42.8 tons of snow-melting agents and about 4.580 sqm of anti-slip fabric. The latest information from the provincial expressway administration yesterday showed that traffic flowed smoothly during the snow.
The Tianhe Airport in Wuhan, Hubei province, had seven snow-melting vehicles working to ensure timely take-offs and landings.
The Anhui meteorological bureau declared all emergency alert because of the snowstorm on Sunday, with 43 cities and counties issuing alerts for snows and two issuing alerts for frozen roads. Shucheng county and Huoshan county issued time top alert because of the snowstorms on Sunday.
Luogang airport in Hefei, Anhui Province, was shut down for four hours since 7 a.m. yesterday due to the heavy snow, Xinhua reported.
The snow caused time rush-hour traffic to be heavily congested and many commuters left home earlier than usual in the morning.
Ye Wei, a worker at Hefei University of Technology, said his ride to work took a half-hour more than usual.
“Maybe tomorrow I will have to get up one hour earlier than before, because of the frozen roads,” Ye said.
The heavy snow first hit northern China, claiming dozens of lives, causing hundreds of injuries, paralyzing the traffic and grounding hundreds of flights.
The whiteout that began Nov 9th has killed at least 32 people and affected more than 9.6 million in seven provinces. More than 15,000 buildings have collapsed and nearly 300, 000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed, Ministry of Civil Affairs officials said on Sunday.
The snowfall was the heaviest in the past six decades in some northern and central provinces like Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan, with an economic loss reaching 7 billion yuan($ 1.02 billion), ministry officials said.
67.Which of the following call be the best title for this passage?
A.Heavy Snow Coming to Southern China.
B.Heavy Snow Blanketed Anhui and Hubei.
C.Snowy All Over China.
D.China in the Future Will Be Cold.
68.The underlined word “precipitation” in the second paragraph probably refers to _______.
A.impulsive approach      B.prediction of snow
C.violent haste           D.fall of snow
69.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Many airports in Anhui Province were shut down for a long time.
B.The snowfall was the heaviest in the human history.
C.Some measures have been taken to deal with the emergency.
D.This snowfall hasn’t brought about any deaths.
70.You may probably read this passage in ________.
A.a(chǎn) poster       B.a(chǎn) magazine    C.a(chǎn) science fiction      D.a(chǎn) newspaper

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空


第一節(jié) 完形填空 (共10小題;每小題2分,滿分20分)
閱讀下面短文,掌握其大意,然后從21~30題所給的A、B、C和D項中,選出最佳選項,并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
A robot called “Tiro” acts as master of ceremonies at a wedding for Seok Gyeong--Jae,one of the engineers who designed it,and his bride in Daejeon,130 kilometers south of Seoul.
“This is Tiro,master of ceremonies for today’s wedding,” the 21  --featuring a cone--shaped body, two arms and a dark--glassed 22  with eyes and a mouth of flashing lights---said in front of smiling guests.In a male voice,the robot  23   the couple to the crowd,let the couple bow to them and performed its 24___  duties.Manufacturer Hanool Robotics claims it is the first 25  in the world a robot has been 26  as master of ceremonies at a wedding.
After its marital(婚姻的)duties,Tiro---whose  27   was put at some 215,000 dollars---would be upgraded to perform various 28  functions,according to Hanool officials.Small other robots were also at the ceremony to 29  guests or give performances.
South Korean robots have also been given harder tasks to tackle. Last month it was  30  that a robot dubbed OFRO would be arranged as a school security guard in what was also claimed as a world first.
21.A.master             B.designer      C.engineer         D.robot
22.A.forehead   B.mind            C.face                 D.form
23.A.introduced        B.told             C.pushed          D.1ed
24.A.prepared   B.a(chǎn)rranged      C.planned       D.programmed
25.A.day                  B.time            C.moment               D.stage
26.A.used                B.known  C.considered            D.created
27.A.wealth             B.cost             C.value                   D.charge
28.A.modem     B.special  C.old                      D.other
29.A.enjoy               B.guide           C.observe         D.visit
30.A.reported    B.believed      C.suggested             D.thought

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案