Unit 2 Great inventions and discoveries 阅读理解10篇（单元话题：发明与创造）-2025-2026学年八年级英语下学期单元重难点易错题精练（沪教版（五四学制））

Unit 2 Great inventions and discoveries 阅读理解10篇 内容导航 单元话题 基础语篇练习 重难语篇练习 单元话题聚焦 发明与创造 基础语篇练习 稳扎稳打 必拿分数：聚焦稳拿分数题目，确保基础分值 重难语篇练习 突破瓶颈 争夺高分：聚焦高难度题目，争夺关键分数 基础语篇练习 Robot fools humans The idea that robots could one day be our friends has been around for a long time but until now they have always seemed more machine than person. A new study by a researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology has found that in fact it’s possible for robots to fool us here and there, they are just less perfect than humans. Inspired by the Turing Test, Agnieszka Wykowska came up with an experiment using a child-sized human-like robot called iCub. Sitting in front of a screen, the people in the test were asked to press a button when a green box appeared on the screen, however, iCub only responded to red boxes. Wykowska programmed the robot to take different lengths of time to respond, just like a person would. Afterwards, the humans were asked to judge whether they had been competing with a machine or a person according to the time of the buttons being pressed-and they couldn’t tell. Wykowska believes that making robots have more human responses is the key to making better robots and creating more trust between humans and robots. In another study with iCub, the robot and a human watched special videos of animals. In the first set of tests, iCub greeted the person, asked for his name and kept eye contact with its camera “eyes”. It made comments about the videos, laughed and showed emotions (情感). In the second experiment, however, iCub did not communicate with humans and just made machine-like noises. The researchers found that people believe that the more human iCub is, the more it has its own thoughts and desires. The team now wants to know if people can communicate with robots that do not look human but still show human-like actions. The researchers plan to repeat the experiments, using robots of different shapes and sizes, to see how people give their responses. 1．A new study at the Italian Institute of Technology has found that robots ________. A．aren’t so clever as machines B．can possibly fool us here and there C．are more perfect than humans D．plan to do a lot of research work 2．People couldn’t tell whether they were competing with a human or an iCub according to ________. A．the green boxes people used B．the timing of the button presses C．the trust between humans and robots D．the red boxes iCub responded to 3．In the first set of another study, iCub didn’t ________ with a human. A．watch special videos of humans B．keep eye contact with its camera “eyes” C．greet the person and ask for his name D．make comments and show emotions 4．In the second experiment, people believe that if iCub is more human-like, it has ________. A．more machine-like noises B．more human-like actions C．more different shapes and sizes D．more thoughts and desires of its own 5．Which information is RIGHT in this passage? A．Robots are no longer machines and they have been our friends for a long time. B．Wykowska did some experiments but failed to find if iCub had any human responses. C．The researchers plan to do the experiment again to see how people will respond. D．In the second test, iCub didn’t communicate with humans because it became foolish. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．A 4．D 5．C 【导语】本文介绍两项关于机器人iCub的研究，表明机器人可偶尔骗过人类，类人化表现易获认可，团队计划进一步实验。 1．细节理解题。根据“A new study by a researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology has found that in fact it’s possible for robots to fool us here and there”可知，意大利理工学院的一项新研究发现机器人有可能时不时骗过人类，故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据“Afterwards, the humans were asked to judge whether they had been competing with a machine or a person according to the time of the buttons being pressed-and they couldn’t tell.”可知，人们无法根据按键的时间判断对手是人类还是机器人iCub，故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据“In the first set of tests, iCub greeted the person, asked for his name and kept eye contact with its camera ‘eyes’. It made comments about the videos, laughed and showed emotions (情感).”可知，在另一项研究的第一组测试中，iCub没有和人类一起观看人类的特殊视频，它看的是动物的特殊视频，故选A。 4．细节理解题。根据“The researchers found that people believe that the more human iCub is, the more it has its own thoughts and desires.”可知，研究人员发现人们认为iCub越像人类，就越有自己的想法和欲望，故选D。 5．细节理解题。根据“The researchers plan to repeat the experiments, using robots of different shapes and sizes, to see how people give their responses.”可知，研究人员计划重复实验，观察人们的反应，该信息表述正确，故选C。 The all-new Jitterbug Smart is the simple smartphone with our biggest screen ever, now with health and safety apps. EASY A new, bigger 5.5-inch screen makes it even easier to stay connected. Everything you want to do, from texting and taking pictures to emailing and visiting the Internet, is organised in a single list on one screen with large letters. Plus, new Voice Typing makes writing emails and texts effortless. SMART Turn your Jitterbug Smart into a personal safety device with Great Call’s award-winning health and safety apps, like 5Star. In any uncertain or unsafe situation, simply press the button and a highly-trained agent will get you the help you need, 24/7. AFFORDABLE Great Call provides a variety of data (数据) plans starting as low as $24.9 per month. Compared to other cell phone companies, you could save over $300 per year, making the Jitterbug Smartphone plans the most affordable on the market. Ask about our new Unlimited Plan! Buy now and get a FREE Car Charger, a $25 value! To order or learn more, visit www.greatcall.com No contracts (合同) to sign, ever Keep your current phone number Award-winning, U.S.-based customer service and support 1．Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the strong point of the Jitterbug Smartphone? A．A screen of 5.5 inches. B．A one-screen task list. C．Voice typing. D．Taking clear pictures. 2．What makes the Jitterbug Smartphone seem smart? A．A special button. B．All-day help online. C．The free car charger. D．The wireless network. 3．What makes Jitterbug the most affordable phone on the market? A．The data plans have with low a starting price. B．The U.S.-based customer service and support. C．The most dependable wireless network. D．The Great Call’s award-winning health and safety apps. 4．Jitterbug Smartphone is thought to be liked and bought by ________. A．the blind B．senior citizens C．young ladies D．people in danger 5．If you want to learn more about Jitterbug Smartphone, you can ________. A．write a letter B．send an email C．visit the given website D．make a phone call 6．You can possibly find the above material in ________. A．a travel guide B．a story book C．a dictionary D．a newspaper 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．A 4．B 5．C 6．D 【导语】本文是一则关于Jitterbug智能手机的广告，介绍了该手机的屏幕、操作便捷性、健康安全应用、价格优势等特点。 1．细节理解题。根据“A new, bigger 5.5-inch screen ... Everything you want to do ... is organised in a single list on one screen... new Voice Typing makes writing emails and texts effortless.”可知，文中提到了5.5英寸屏幕、单屏任务列表、语音输入，未提及“拍摄清晰照片”，故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据“In any uncertain or unsafe situation, simply press the button and a highly-trained agent will get you the help you need, 24/7.”可知，一个特殊的按钮让这款手机显得智能，故选A。 3．细节理解题。根据“Great Call provides a variety of data (数据) plans starting as low as $24.9 per month ... making the Jitterbug Smartphone plans the most affordable on the market.”可知，低起步价的数据套餐让它成为市场上最实惠的手机，故选A。 4．推理判断题。该手机操作简单、有健康安全应用且价格实惠，推测可能受老年人青睐，故选B。 5．细节理解题。根据“To order or learn more, visit www.greatcall.com”可知，可访问给定网站了解更多信息，故选C。 6．推理判断题。这是一则手机广告，最可能出现在报纸上，故选D。 A big win for water Tina Jin, a 13-year-old girl from the US, has made an amazing achievement in science with her water filtration (过滤) project. In October, Jin won the top award (奖项) at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge and a $25,000 (about 180,000 yuan) prize. She plans to save the money for college and hopes to patent (获得……的专利) her invention. When Jin learned that over 2 billion people worldwide don’t have clean drinking water, she wanted to find a nearly zero-cost way to filter water. Surprisingly, she got the idea from the leftover bones (吃剩下的骨头) on her dinner plate. She noticed many porous (多孔的) holes in the bones which she thought could be used to filter water. For months, Jin saved bones from family dinners and started testing. She began her experiment by cutting cow bones into thin slices (骨片) and filtering different types of “dirty” water, including black tea and local river water. At first, she saw only a part of the animal bones worked. She wanted to make the bones more usable, so she ground them up (把它们磨碎). Then, she made a water filter by putting a cloth on one end of a tube (管道) and filling it with the ground-up bones. She used this to filter dirty water. She studied the data to check the best pore size (孔径) for the clearest water. Her hard work paid off when the San Jose Water Company tested her filter and said it was safe to drink from. Jin then did more with her research, using bones from pigs and sheep, but this young scientist is not stopping there. “I want to partner with bigger organizations and help people filter water in my way,” she said. 1．What did Tina Jin plan to do with the prize money? A．Continue her research on water filters. B．Help people in poor areas get clean water. C．Save for college and patent her invention. D．Buy new equipment for her experiments. 2．What inspired Tina Jin to filter water in her way? A．A school science project. B．A talk with a water engineer. C．A documentary about water pollution. D．The porous holes in leftover bones. 3．What was Jin’s purpose when she started her experiment? A．To save money to go to college. B．To get a patent for her invention. C．To provide clean water for her family. D．To find a nearly free way to get clean water. 4．What did Jin do to make the bones better at filtering water? A．She ground them up. B．She cut them into thin slices. C．She boiled them in hot water. D．She covered them with a clean cloth. 5．What do we know about Jin’s invention according to the San Jose Water Company? A．It is a useful way to filter water. B．It cannot be used directly in daily life. C．It needs more tests to find the best pore size. D．It should be tested with more types of dirty water. 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．D 4．A 5．A 【导语】本文主要介绍了13岁美国女孩Tina Jin利用剩骨发明低成本水过滤装置并获得科学大奖的故事。 1．细节理解题。根据“She plans to save the money for college and hopes to patent her invention.”可知，她计划将奖金用于上大学和申请专利。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据“she got the idea from the leftover bones on her dinner plate. She noticed many porous holes in the bones which she thought could be used to filter water.”可知，她从剩骨上的多孔结构获得灵感。故选D。 3．细节理解题。根据“she wanted to find a nearly zero-cost way to filter water.”可知，她开始实验的目的是找到几乎零成本的净水方法。故选D。 4．细节理解题。根据“She wanted to make the bones more usable, so she ground them up.”可知，她将骨头磨碎以更好地过滤水。故选A。 5．细节理解题。根据“the San Jose Water Company tested her filter and said it was safe to drink from.”可知，她的净水装置经测试安全可用。故选A。 Drones (无人机): Useful Helpers in Our Daily Lives In recent years, drones have become more and more popular. These small flying machines, which can be controlled by remote devices, are no longer just toys for hobbyists. They are now playing important roles in many parts of our daily lives, making our work easier and life more convenient. One of the most common uses of drones is in delivery services. Big companies like Amazon have tested drone delivery for a long time. Instead of sending delivery workers by bike or car, drones can carry small packages (such as books, snacks, and even medicine) to people’s homes quickly. This is especially helpful in areas with heavy traffic, as drones can fly over cars and reach the destination in less time. Drones also bring great benefits to agriculture. Farmers use drones to check their crops. Equipped with special cameras, drones can fly over large fields and take clear pictures. Farmers can then look at these pictures to see if their crops are healthy, if they need more water, or if there are pests. This helps farmers save a lot of time and energy compared to walking around the fields by themselves. Besides, drones are useful in search and rescue work. When someone gets lost in the mountains or a forest, rescuers can use drones to look for them. Drones can cover large areas quickly and send real-time videos back to rescuers. This makes it much easier for rescuers to find the lost person, especially in dangerous or hard-to-reach places. However, using drones also has some rules. For example, drones cannot fly near airports (because they may disturb planes) and must not be used to take photos of other people’s houses without permission. Following these rules helps keep everyone safe and protects people’s privacy. With their many useful functions, drones are sure to become even more important in our daily lives in the future. 1．What is the main purpose of the passage? A．To tell readers how to make a drone. B．To introduce the uses of drones in daily life. C．To explain why drones are expensive. D．To describe the history of drones. 2．Which of the following is NOT a use of drones mentioned in the passage? A．Delivering small packages. B．Helping farmers check crops. C．Teaching students in class. D．Assisting in search and rescue work. 3．Why is drone delivery helpful in areas with heavy traffic? A．Drones are cheaper than delivery cars. B．Drones can fly over cars and save time. C．Drones can carry very large packages. D．Drones don’t need any power to fly. 4．What does the underlined word “pests” mean in Chinese? A．杂草 B．害虫 C．农具 D．肥料 5．What can we learn from the passage? A．Drones can be used freely anywhere. B．Drones are only used by big companies now. C．Drones will be more useful in the future. D．Drones can replace farmers to grow crops. 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．B 4．B 5．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了无人机在日常生活中的多种用途，包括送货服务、农业应用和搜救工作，并提到了使用无人机的一些规则。 1．主旨大意题。根据文章标题“Drones (无人机): Useful Helpers in Our Daily Lives”以及全文内容可知，文章主要介绍了无人机在日常生活中的多种用途。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据文章第二段“One of the most common uses of drones is in delivery services.”、第三段“Drones also bring great benefits to agriculture. Farmers use drones to check their crops.”以及第四段“Besides, drones are useful in search and rescue work.”可知，无人机用于送货服务、农业检查和搜救工作，并未提及用于课堂上教学。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据文章第二段“This is especially helpful in areas with heavy traffic, as drones can fly over cars and reach the destination in less time.”可知，无人机在交通拥堵的地区很有帮助，因为它们可以飞越汽车，更快地到达目的地。故选B。 4．词句猜测题。根据文章第三段“Farmers can then look at these pictures to see if their crops are healthy, if they need more water, or if there are pests.”可知，农民可以通过这些图片查看庄稼是否健康，是否需要更多的水，或者是否有害虫。根据句意可推断“pests”意为“害虫”。故选B。 5．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“With their many useful functions, drones are sure to become even more important in our daily lives in the future.”可知，无人机具有多种有用的功能，未来在我们的日常生活中一定会变得更加重要。故选C。 Choose the best answer（根据以下内容，选择最恰当的答案） When Machines Try to Be Human Did you know robots are trying to take over the world? They are writing books and even cooking at restaurants! But guess what? Sometimes, they mess things up-just as human do. You Call That Service? In Nagasaki, Japan, a hotel hired 243 robots to do various jobs, like helping guests check in or carrying suitcases. Unfortunately, the check-in robots had trouble answering guests’questions, while others kept knocking into walls and falling over. An in-room robot assistant even said “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat your request?” when a guest snored (打鼾). Half of the robots were soon fired (解雇), and of course they didn’t get their tips, either. You Look Familiar! Facial recognition software can’t always recognize faces. When The American Civil Liberties tested the Recognition software it incorrectly matched photos of criminals (罪犯) to 28 government workers. But what about football recognition? During a match cameras programmed to follow the ball kept mistaking the judge’s bald head for the football. One helpful viewer suggested that the judge wear false hair. Stop the Press! In 2017, The Los Angeles Times reported a 1925 earthquake in Santa Barbara as recent. It turned out that the report was written by Quakebot, a computer program which automatically wrote news articles based on an official geological database (地质数据库). When a worker made a mistake while updating the historical data, Quakebot thought it was breaking news. Soon after, misled Southern Californians started worrying about an earthquake that happened almost 100 years ago! Quick, Go Get a Broom (扫帚)! ________ Let Jesse Newton tell you. His new pet dog left its mess on the floor at night while he and his wife were asleep. Their robot vacuum simply ran over the mess and spread it all over the house. Imagine waking up to a home that looks like a “poop painting”—not exactly the artwork you would want! 1．What happened to the robots at the Nagasaki hotel? A．Half of them get tips for their excellent service. B．Some of them had trouble doing their jobs. C．Most of them broke down and were no longer used. D．There were complaints about some of them being unfriendly. 2．In the “You Look Familiar” part, the writer gave ________ examples to show that robot recognition can fail. A．no B．one C．two D．three 3．The Quakebot is used at The Los Angeles Times for ________. A．writing articles B．predicting earthquakes C．updating historical data D．correcting mistakes in reports 4．What best fits the blank in the “Quick, Go Get a Broom!” A．How can a robot vacuum make your life better B．When is the best time to use a robot vacuum C．What’s the worst thing a robot vacuum can do D．What’s the difference between a robot vacuum and a broom 5．What’s the main idea of the article? A．Robots are being widely used in our daily lives. B．Robots will take over the world sooner or later. C．Robots are becoming more and more human-like D．Robot can make mistakes and fail in their given tasks. 6．You are likely to find this article in ________ section of a magazine. A．shopping B．technology C．advertisement D．sports 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．A 4．C 5．D 6．B 【导语】本文主要介绍了几件趣事，想说明机器人并不是万能的，它们也会像人类那样把事情搞砸。 1．细节理解题。根据文章“ Unfortunately, the check-in robots had trouble answering guests’questions, while others kept knocking into walls and falling over. An in-room robot assistant even said ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat your request?’ when a guest snored (打鼾).”，Nagasaki酒店的机器人在工作中遇到了麻烦，如无法回答客人的问题和撞墙等。故选B。 2．细节理解题。“You Look Familiar”部分提到两个例子：面部识别软件错误匹配罪犯照片和足球比赛中摄像机误将裁判的光头识别为足球。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据“It turned out that the report was written by Quakebot, a computer program which automatically wrote news articles based on an official geological database”可知，Quakebot被用来在《洛杉矶时报》撰写基于地质数据库的新闻文章。故选A。 4．推理判断题。“Quick, Go Get a Broom!”部分描述了机器人吸尘器的失误，最适合的标题是“机器人吸尘器做的最糟糕的事情是什么”。故选C。 5．主旨大意题。根据“Sometimes, they mess things up-just as human do.”及文章的内容可知，文章主要讲述了机器人在执行任务时可能会犯错和失败。故选D。 6．推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章主要讲述了机器人在执行任务时可能会犯错和失败，最有可能出现在杂志的技术部分。故选B。 Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation (灌溉) system in Sichuan, China. It was designed by Li Bing, a local governor, and built over 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty. Unlike modern dams (水坝), Dujiangyan has no walls to block water. Instead, it uses three main parts to control flooding and irrigate farmland. The first part is called the “Fish Mouth.” That’s because it looks like a fish’s mouth. It splits the Min River into two channels: an inner channel for irrigation and an outer channel for flood control. The second part is the “Flying Sand Fence.” It slows down the water and traps sediment (泥沙), preventing clogging (堵塞). The third part, the “Bottle Neck Channel,” acts like a valve (阀门). It releases water smoothly into farmland. Dujiangyan solved two major problems in ancient Sichuan: floods and droughts. Before its construction, floods destroyed crops every summer. In winter, however, droughts dried up fields. Today, Dujiangyan is still in use. It irrigates over 5,300 square kilometers of land, supporting six million people. In 2000, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site for its “scientific and technological genius.” 1．When was Dujiangyan built? A．During the Tang Dynasty. B．During the Qin Dynasty. C．During the Ming Dynasty. D．During the Qing Dynasty. 2．According to the article, Dujiangyan differs from modern dams because it ________. A．has no walls B．is made up of three parts C．supports six million people D．can irrigate farmland as well as control flooding 3．What problems did Dujiangyan solve in ancient Sichuan? ① Floods in summer.    ② Too much rainfall.    ③ Droughts in winter.    ④ Frequent earthquakes. A．①② B．③④ C．①③ D．②④ 4．Which part in the picture is the “Bottle Neck Channel”? A．Part 1. B．Part 2. C．Part 3. D．Part 4. 5．Which of the following statements is true based on the passage? A．Dujiangyan was built to generate electricity. B．Dujiangyan only irrigates farmland in Sichuan today. C．UNESCO praised Dujiangyan for its ancient engineering wisdom. D．The “Flying Sand Fence” speeds up water flow to prevent sediment buildup. 6．What is the best title for this passage? A．“How to Build a Dam.” B．“Li Bing: A Famous Governor.” C．“The History of Sichuan’s Floods.” D．“Dujiangyan: An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems.” 【答案】1．B 2．A 3．C 4．D 5．C 6．D 【导语】本文主要介绍了都江堰灌溉系统是世界上最伟大的奇迹之一，展示了古代中国工程的智慧。 1．细节理解题。根据“It was designed by Li Bing, a local governor, and built over 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty.”可知建造在秦朝，故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据“Unlike modern dams, Dujiangyan has no walls to block water”可知主要区别是没有墙。故选A。 3．细节理解题。根据“Dujiangyan solved two major problems in ancient Sichuan: floods and droughts.”可知都江堰解决了古代四川夏季洪水和冬季干旱这两个问题，故选C。 4．推理判断题。根据“The third part, the ‘Bottle Neck Channel,’ acts like a valve. It releases water smoothly into farmland.”可知此部分可以把水引向农田，故选D。 5．细节理解题。根据“In 2000, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site for its ‘scientific and technological genius.’”可知联合国教科文组织称都江堰体现了“科学和技术的天才”，即赞扬其古代工程智慧。故选C。 6．最佳标题题。通读全文可知，文章着重介绍都江堰在古代和现代的作用，故选D。 ①What will the world of tomorrow be like? Many people today believe that technology (科技) is going to help solve some problems we have today. New technology may solve old problems, and it may also create new ones. No technology is perfect. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Here are three examples. ②When we dream about the future, many of us think that we will be able to fly to the sky in our own flying cars. We could fly at 480km per hour, avoiding traffic lights and busy roads. However, if too many flying cars are in the air, there will be trouble with traffic control. ③3-D printing is another new technology for the future. 3-D printers are already used to make life-size models of car parts  (部件), and man-made body parts, like ears. As we move into the future, 3-D printing will change the way we make things and the way we treat sick people. The disadvantage is that such a machine is very expensive. ④Finally, people are trying to make a robot suit (套装). This is an electronic suit. It allows people to lift heavy things and walk a long way. It might help people walk again after an illness or an accident. However, one disadvantage at the moment is the cost. ⑤It is easy to imagine a future. We will be able to fly to work, print out a new pair of shoes or lift a car above our heads. Although there are some problems to solve, we can certainly dream of a world. In this world, technology makes people's life easier and safer, and it can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today. 1．How does the writer start the passage? A．By asking a question. B．By giving a report. C．By giving advice. D．By telling a story. 2．What is an advantage of the robot suit mentioned in the passage? A．It can control air traffic for flying cars. B．It allows people to lift heavy objects and walk long distances. C．It reduces the cost of 3-D printed medical parts. D．It replaces the need for human workers in factories. 3．Which one of the following is NOT true? A．If too many flying cars are in the air, there will be problems with traffic control. B．3-D printing won't change the way we make things. C．A robot suit costs too much at the moment. D．Technology can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today. 4．What would be the best structure of this passage? A． B． C． D． 5．What is the theme (主题) of the passage? A．Traffic. B．Machines. C．Clothes. D．Technology. 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．B 4．B 5．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要探讨了未来科技可能带来的变革，包括飞行汽车、3-D打印技术和机器人套装等，同时指出了这些技术的优缺点，并展望了科技让生活更便捷、更安全的未来。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“What will the world of tomorrow be like? Many people today believe that technology (科技) is going to help solve some problems we have today.”可知，作者通过提出一个问题来开始文章。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据文章第四段“It allows people to lift heavy things and walk a long way.”可知，机器人套装的优点是它允许人们举起重物和走很长的路。故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据文章第三段“As we move into the future, 3-D printing will change the way we make things and the way we treat sick people.”可知，3-D打印技术将改变我们制造物品和治疗病人的方式，因此B选项“3-D printing won't change the way we make things.”是错误的。故选B。 4．篇章结构题。文章第一段提出主题，即未来科技可能带来的变革；第二、三、四段分别介绍了飞行汽车、3-D打印技术和机器人套装等未来科技及其优缺点；第五段总结全文，展望了科技让生活更便捷、更安全的未来。因此，文章的结构是①/②③④/⑤。故选B。 5．主旨大意题。根据文章第一段“Many people today believe that technology (科技) is going to help solve some problems we have today.”以及全文内容可知，文章主要探讨了未来科技可能带来的变革，因此文章的主题是科技。故选D。 Choose the best answers. (根据短文内容，选择最恰当的答案。) Water is vital for life, but with growing populations and climate change, we must find smart solutions to use it wisely. Around the world, people are developing creative methods to save water in homes, farms, and cities. One interesting innovation is “smart showers”. These showers have sensors that turn off the water when you step away, saving up to 50% of water used in a normal shower. Another invention is “greywater recycling systems”, which reuse water from sinks and washing machines to flush toilets or water gardens. Farmers are also using new technology to reduce water waste. Drones with infrared (红外线的) cameras can detect which parts of a field need more water, helping farmers water only where necessary. Some places even use “fog nets”—large mesh (网状的) screens that collect water from fog in dry areas. Cities are making changes too. In Singapore, “NEWater” is purified wastewater that is safe to drink. Meanwhile, some schools teach students to track water use with digital meters, encouraging them to save water every day. Small actions matter too. Fixing leaks, using a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars, and planting drought-resistant plants can all help. If we combine new technology with good habits, we can protect our water for the future. 1．What do “smart showers” do to save water? A．Play music while working. B．Turn off water when not in use. C．Heat water faster. D．Make showers longer. 2．How do drones help farmers save water? A．By watering all crops equally. B．By detecting which areas need water. C．By scaring away birds. D．By planting seeds automatically. 3．What is “greywater recycling”? A．Throwing away dirty water. B．Reusing water from sinks or washing machines for toilets or gardens. C．Drinking seawater. D．Collecting rainwater in barrels. 4．What is special about Singapore’s “NEWater”? A．It comes from melted icebergs. B．It is purified wastewater. C．It is only for washing clothes. D．It tastes like fruit juice. 5．What is one simple way people can save water at home? A．Leaving the tap running while brushing teeth. B．Using a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars. C．Taking baths every day. D．Watering plants at noon. 【答案】1．B 2．B 3．B 4．B 5．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述为了应对人口增长和气候变化，世界各地的人们在家庭、农场和城市中开发了各种创意节水方法，包括智能淋浴、灰水回收系统、农业无人机、雾网、新加坡的新生水以及一些家庭节水小行动等。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“These showers have sensors that turn off the water when you step away, saving up to 50% of water used in a normal shower.”可知，“智能淋浴”在不用时会关闭水来节水。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“Drones with infrared cameras can detect which parts of a field need more water, helping farmers water only where necessary.”可知，无人机通过检测哪些区域需要水来帮助农民节水。故选B。 3．细节理解题。根据第二段“Another invention is ‘greywater recycling systems’, which reuse water from sinks and washing machines to flush toilets or water gardens.”可知，灰水回收是指重复利用水槽和洗衣机的水来冲厕所或浇灌花园。故选B。 4．细节理解题。根据第四段“In Singapore, ‘NEWater’ is purified wastewater that is safe to drink.”可知，新加坡的“新生水”是净化后的废水。故选B。 5．细节理解题。根据最后一段“Fixing leaks, using a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars, and planting drought-resistant plants can all help.”可知，在家节水的简单方法之一是用桶而不是水管洗车。故选B。 重难语篇练习 . Inspiration: flexible elephant trunks and octopus tentacles Do you have any idea how flexible elephant trunks and octopus tentacles are? Can you imagine a robot that is like both of them? A group of scientists from a Chinese university has made a really smart spiral soft robot arm. This arm is almost as good as the human hand when it comes to picking up different things. Some videos showing how it works have been put out. In these videos you can see the tentacle-like robot arm do amazing things. It can easily pick up fragile things like glass, eggs, and strawberries without breaking them. It can also catch a fast-moving tennis ball quickly and hit a ping-pong ball accurately. The scientists, led by Nikolaos Frisis from the University of Science and Technology of China, used a method called reverse engineering. They copied the flexible structures that look like spirals in nature. Function Features: Grasp fragile items, quickly and accurately. The robot system, called SpiRobbs, which was made by learning from nature, can do very skillful movements to pick things up, such as reeling in, stretching out, winding around and grabbing things. According to a study published in the magazine Device, it has a success rate of nearly 95 percent. The spiral gripper, which has a 15-degree conical angle, is moved by two or three cables. It can pick up much larger things and can carry things that are 260 times heavier than itself, the study says. Also, the team used 3D printing to make models of different sizes, from centimeters to meters. They used cheap materials like polyurethane, resin and paper. This makes it more likely that these robots can be sold in the future. Application Prospect: Low-cost production via 3D printing In a test outside, a robot arm fixed on a drone was able to skillfully grab and lift a water bucket. This shows that it might be useful in the low-altitude economy area in the future. 1. octopus tentacles n. 章鱼触手    2. spiral n. 螺旋形 3. reverse engineering n. 逆向工程    4. reel v. 卷 5. stretch v. 拉长      6. wind v. 缠绕 7. grab v. 抓      8. gripper n. 抓手 9. polyurethane n. 聚氨酯    10. resin n. 合成树脂 11. low-altitude economy n. 低空经济 1．How does the writer start the passage? A．By giving examples. B．By asking questions. C．By comparing differences. D．By listing numbers. 2．What does the underlined word “fragile” probably mean in Chinese? A．透明的 B．精致的 C．轻巧的 D．易损的 3．What can we infer from the passage? A．The robot arms are not suitable for picking up heavy things. B．The robot arms will be seen in many different fields in life. C．The robot arms will replace human hands completely in the future. D．The robot arms can do many movements like spirals in nature. 4．What does the underlined word “This” refer to in the passage? A．Making models of different sizes. B．Considering 3D printing methods. C．Selling cheap robots in the future. D．Using not expensive materials. 5．What’s the author’s attitude towards the spiral soft robot arm? A．Doubtful. B．Uncertain. C．Disappointed. D．Supportive. 6．What is the main idea of the passage? A．The future development of the drones. B．The use of 3D printing in making robot arms. C．The introduction of a smart spiral soft robot arm. D．The importance of reverse engineering in robotics. 【答案】1．B 2．D 3．B 4．D 5．D 6．C 【导语】本文介绍了一款受大象鼻子和章鱼触手启发而研制的螺旋软体机器人手臂，阐述了其功能特点、制造方式及应用前景。 1．细节理解题。文章开头通过提问“你知道大象鼻子和章鱼触手有多灵活吗？你能想象一个像它们一样的机器人吗？”来引入主题，属于设问开头。故选B。 2．词句猜测题。根据后文“without breaking them”以及列举的玻璃、鸡蛋、草莓等物品可知，这些物品容易损坏，因此“fragile”意为“易损的”。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据文章最后一段描述该机器人手臂安装在无人机上成功抓取水桶，并指出“这表明它可能在未来低空经济领域有用”，结合前文介绍其灵活抓取多种物品的能力，可推断它将在生活的许多不同领域得到应用。故选B。 4．词句猜测题。根据前文“Also, the team used 3D printing to make models of different sizes... They used cheap materials...This makes it more likely that these robots can be sold in the future.” (此外，该团队使用3D打印制作不同尺寸的模型……他们使用了廉价材料……这使这些机器人未来更有可能被销售。)可知，“This”指代的是“使用不昂贵的材料”这一做法。故选D。 5．观点态度题。全文客观介绍了该机器人手臂的灵感来源、功能优势、制造工艺和应用潜力，没有表达怀疑、不确定或失望的情绪，因此作者的态度是支持的。故选D。 6．主旨大意题。全文围绕一款受自然界启发的智能螺旋软体机器人手臂展开，介绍了其设计灵感、功能特点、制造方法和应用前景，因此主要介绍这款机器人手臂。故选C。 In the 19th century, communication was a slow and laborious process. People relied on handwritten letters, which could take weeks or even months to reach their destination. The invention of the telegraph in the mid-1800s revolutionized communication, allowing messages to be sent over long distances in a matter of minutes. However, it was the advent of the telephone in the late 19th century that truly transformed how people interacted with one another. Fast forward to the 21st century, and communication has become almost instantaneous. With the rise of the Internet and smartphones, people can now send messages, make video calls, and share information with anyone around the globe in seconds. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo have further changed the way we communicate, allowing users to share their thoughts, photos, and videos with a wide audience. Despite these advancements, some argue that modern communication lacks the personal touch of handwritten letters. In the past, letters were often carefully crafted, with attention paid to every word. Today, messages are often short and informal, with emojis and abbreviations replacing full sentences. However, others believe that the speed and convenience of modern communication outweigh these drawbacks. The evolution of communication has also had a significant impact on businesses. In the past, companies relied on mail and telephones to communicate with clients and partners. Today, email, video conferencing, and instant messaging have made it easier than ever to conduct business on a global scale. This has led to increased efficiency and productivity, but it has also created new challenges, such as the need to manage large volumes of digital information. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that communication will continue to evolve. Some experts predict that virtual reality and artificial intelligence will play a major role in the future of communication, allowing people to interact in more immersive and personalized ways. Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: the way we communicate will continue to change, just as it has for centuries. 1．What was the impact of the telegraph on communication in the 19th century? A．It made communication slower and more laborious. B．It allowed messages to be sent over long distances in minutes. C．It replaced handwritten letters entirely. D．It had no significant impact on communication. 2．Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a modern communication tool? A．Social media platforms. B．Video conferencing. C．Handwritten letters. D．Instant messaging. 3．What is the closest antonym for the underlined word “laborious” in the first paragraph? A．Easy. B．Difficult. C．Slow. D．Complicated. 4．Which of the following would be most important to include in a summary of the passage? A．The invention of the telegraph allowed messages to be sent quickly. B．Modern communication is faster but less personal than in the past. C．Virtual reality will change the way we communicate in the future. D．Businesses have benefited from the evolution of communication. 5．What is the main idea of the passage? A．The invention of the telephone revolutionized communication. B．Modern communication lacks the personal touch of handwritten letters. C．Communication has evolved significantly over time, from letters to instant messaging. D．Virtual reality will play a major role in the future of communication. 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．A 4．B 5．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，文章主要讲述了通信方式从19世纪的手写信件到21世纪互联网和智能手机的即时通信的演变过程，以及这种演变对个人和商业的影响，同时展望了未来通信可能的发展方向。 1．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“The invention of the telegraph in the mid-1800s revolutionized communication, allowing messages to be sent over long distances in a matter of minutes.”可知，19世纪电报的发明使信息能在几分钟内传到很远的地方。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据文章第二段“Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo have further changed the way we communicate”和第四段“Today, email, video conferencing, and instant messaging have made it easier than ever to conduct business on a global scale.”可知，社交媒体平台、视频会议和即时通讯都被提及为现代通讯工具，而手写信件不属于现代通讯工具。故选C。 3．词句猜测题。根据文章第一段“In the 19th century, communication was a slow and laborious process. People relied on handwritten letters, which could take weeks or even months to reach their destination.”可知，在19世纪，通信是一个缓慢而费力的过程，人们依靠手写信件，这可能需要数周甚至数月才能到达目的地，所以“laborious”意为“费力的”，与“easy”意思相反。故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据文章第三段“Despite these advancements, some argue that modern communication lacks the personal touch of handwritten letters... However, others believe that the speed and convenience of modern communication outweigh these drawbacks.”可知，文章既提到了现代通信的速度和便利性，也提到了其缺乏手写信件的个人化特点，所以B选项“现代通信比过去更快，但缺乏个人化”是文章的重要信息，适合作为总结内容。故选B。 5．主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知，文章主要讲述了通信方式从19世纪的手写信件到21世纪互联网和智能手机的即时通信的演变过程。C选项“Communication has evolved significantly over time, from letters to instant messaging.”概括了文章的主旨。故选C。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ Unit 2 Great inventions and discoveries 阅读理解10篇 内容导航 单元话题 基础语篇练习 重难语篇练习 单元话题聚焦 发明与创造 基础语篇练习 稳扎稳打 必拿分数：聚焦稳拿分数题目，确保基础分值 重难语篇练习 突破瓶颈 争夺高分：聚焦高难度题目，争夺关键分数 基础语篇练习 Robot fools humans The idea that robots could one day be our friends has been around for a long time but until now they have always seemed more machine than person. A new study by a researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology has found that in fact it’s possible for robots to fool us here and there, they are just less perfect than humans. Inspired by the Turing Test, Agnieszka Wykowska came up with an experiment using a child-sized human-like robot called iCub. Sitting in front of a screen, the people in the test were asked to press a button when a green box appeared on the screen, however, iCub only responded to red boxes. Wykowska programmed the robot to take different lengths of time to respond, just like a person would. Afterwards, the humans were asked to judge whether they had been competing with a machine or a person according to the time of the buttons being pressed-and they couldn’t tell. Wykowska believes that making robots have more human responses is the key to making better robots and creating more trust between humans and robots. In another study with iCub, the robot and a human watched special videos of animals. In the first set of tests, iCub greeted the person, asked for his name and kept eye contact with its camera “eyes”. It made comments about the videos, laughed and showed emotions (情感). In the second experiment, however, iCub did not communicate with humans and just made machine-like noises. The researchers found that people believe that the more human iCub is, the more it has its own thoughts and desires. The team now wants to know if people can communicate with robots that do not look human but still show human-like actions. The researchers plan to repeat the experiments, using robots of different shapes and sizes, to see how people give their responses. 1．A new study at the Italian Institute of Technology has found that robots ________. A．aren’t so clever as machines B．can possibly fool us here and there C．are more perfect than humans D．plan to do a lot of research work 2．People couldn’t tell whether they were competing with a human or an iCub according to ________. A．the green boxes people used B．the timing of the button presses C．the trust between humans and robots D．the red boxes iCub responded to 3．In the first set of another study, iCub didn’t ________ with a human. A．watch special videos of humans B．keep eye contact with its camera “eyes” C．greet the person and ask for his name D．make comments and show emotions 4．In the second experiment, people believe that if iCub is more human-like, it has ________. A．more machine-like noises B．more human-like actions C．more different shapes and sizes D．more thoughts and desires of its own 5．Which information is RIGHT in this passage? A．Robots are no longer machines and they have been our friends for a long time. B．Wykowska did some experiments but failed to find if iCub had any human responses. C．The researchers plan to do the experiment again to see how people will respond. D．In the second test, iCub didn’t communicate with humans because it became foolish. The all-new Jitterbug Smart is the simple smartphone with our biggest screen ever, now with health and safety apps. EASY A new, bigger 5.5-inch screen makes it even easier to stay connected. Everything you want to do, from texting and taking pictures to emailing and visiting the Internet, is organised in a single list on one screen with large letters. Plus, new Voice Typing makes writing emails and texts effortless. SMART Turn your Jitterbug Smart into a personal safety device with Great Call’s award-winning health and safety apps, like 5Star. In any uncertain or unsafe situation, simply press the button and a highly-trained agent will get you the help you need, 24/7. AFFORDABLE Great Call provides a variety of data (数据) plans starting as low as $24.9 per month. Compared to other cell phone companies, you could save over $300 per year, making the Jitterbug Smartphone plans the most affordable on the market. Ask about our new Unlimited Plan! Buy now and get a FREE Car Charger, a $25 value! To order or learn more, visit www.greatcall.com No contracts (合同) to sign, ever Keep your current phone number Award-winning, U.S.-based customer service and support 1．Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the strong point of the Jitterbug Smartphone? A．A screen of 5.5 inches. B．A one-screen task list. C．Voice typing. D．Taking clear pictures. 2．What makes the Jitterbug Smartphone seem smart? A．A special button. B．All-day help online. C．The free car charger. D．The wireless network. 3．What makes Jitterbug the most affordable phone on the market? A．The data plans have with low a starting price. B．The U.S.-based customer service and support. C．The most dependable wireless network. D．The Great Call’s award-winning health and safety apps. 4．Jitterbug Smartphone is thought to be liked and bought by ________. A．the blind B．senior citizens C．young ladies D．people in danger 5．If you want to learn more about Jitterbug Smartphone, you can ________. A．write a letter B．send an email C．visit the given website D．make a phone call 6．You can possibly find the above material in ________. A．a travel guide B．a story book C．a dictionary D．a newspaper A big win for water Tina Jin, a 13-year-old girl from the US, has made an amazing achievement in science with her water filtration (过滤) project. In October, Jin won the top award (奖项) at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge and a $25,000 (about 180,000 yuan) prize. She plans to save the money for college and hopes to patent (获得……的专利) her invention. When Jin learned that over 2 billion people worldwide don’t have clean drinking water, she wanted to find a nearly zero-cost way to filter water. Surprisingly, she got the idea from the leftover bones (吃剩下的骨头) on her dinner plate. She noticed many porous (多孔的) holes in the bones which she thought could be used to filter water. For months, Jin saved bones from family dinners and started testing. She began her experiment by cutting cow bones into thin slices (骨片) and filtering different types of “dirty” water, including black tea and local river water. At first, she saw only a part of the animal bones worked. She wanted to make the bones more usable, so she ground them up (把它们磨碎). Then, she made a water filter by putting a cloth on one end of a tube (管道) and filling it with the ground-up bones. She used this to filter dirty water. She studied the data to check the best pore size (孔径) for the clearest water. Her hard work paid off when the San Jose Water Company tested her filter and said it was safe to drink from. Jin then did more with her research, using bones from pigs and sheep, but this young scientist is not stopping there. “I want to partner with bigger organizations and help people filter water in my way,” she said. 1．What did Tina Jin plan to do with the prize money? A．Continue her research on water filters. B．Help people in poor areas get clean water. C．Save for college and patent her invention. D．Buy new equipment for her experiments. 2．What inspired Tina Jin to filter water in her way? A．A school science project. B．A talk with a water engineer. C．A documentary about water pollution. D．The porous holes in leftover bones. 3．What was Jin’s purpose when she started her experiment? A．To save money to go to college. B．To get a patent for her invention. C．To provide clean water for her family. D．To find a nearly free way to get clean water. 4．What did Jin do to make the bones better at filtering water? A．She ground them up. B．She cut them into thin slices. C．She boiled them in hot water. D．She covered them with a clean cloth. 5．What do we know about Jin’s invention according to the San Jose Water Company? A．It is a useful way to filter water. B．It cannot be used directly in daily life. C．It needs more tests to find the best pore size. D．It should be tested with more types of dirty water. Drones (无人机): Useful Helpers in Our Daily Lives In recent years, drones have become more and more popular. These small flying machines, which can be controlled by remote devices, are no longer just toys for hobbyists. They are now playing important roles in many parts of our daily lives, making our work easier and life more convenient. One of the most common uses of drones is in delivery services. Big companies like Amazon have tested drone delivery for a long time. Instead of sending delivery workers by bike or car, drones can carry small packages (such as books, snacks, and even medicine) to people’s homes quickly. This is especially helpful in areas with heavy traffic, as drones can fly over cars and reach the destination in less time. Drones also bring great benefits to agriculture. Farmers use drones to check their crops. Equipped with special cameras, drones can fly over large fields and take clear pictures. Farmers can then look at these pictures to see if their crops are healthy, if they need more water, or if there are pests. This helps farmers save a lot of time and energy compared to walking around the fields by themselves. Besides, drones are useful in search and rescue work. When someone gets lost in the mountains or a forest, rescuers can use drones to look for them. Drones can cover large areas quickly and send real-time videos back to rescuers. This makes it much easier for rescuers to find the lost person, especially in dangerous or hard-to-reach places. However, using drones also has some rules. For example, drones cannot fly near airports (because they may disturb planes) and must not be used to take photos of other people’s houses without permission. Following these rules helps keep everyone safe and protects people’s privacy. With their many useful functions, drones are sure to become even more important in our daily lives in the future. 1．What is the main purpose of the passage? A．To tell readers how to make a drone. B．To introduce the uses of drones in daily life. C．To explain why drones are expensive. D．To describe the history of drones. 2．Which of the following is NOT a use of drones mentioned in the passage? A．Delivering small packages. B．Helping farmers check crops. C．Teaching students in class. D．Assisting in search and rescue work. 3．Why is drone delivery helpful in areas with heavy traffic? A．Drones are cheaper than delivery cars. B．Drones can fly over cars and save time. C．Drones can carry very large packages. D．Drones don’t need any power to fly. 4．What does the underlined word “pests” mean in Chinese? A．杂草 B．害虫 C．农具 D．肥料 5．What can we learn from the passage? A．Drones can be used freely anywhere. B．Drones are only used by big companies now. C．Drones will be more useful in the future. D．Drones can replace farmers to grow crops. Choose the best answer（根据以下内容，选择最恰当的答案） When Machines Try to Be Human Did you know robots are trying to take over the world? They are writing books and even cooking at restaurants! But guess what? Sometimes, they mess things up-just as human do. You Call That Service? In Nagasaki, Japan, a hotel hired 243 robots to do various jobs, like helping guests check in or carrying suitcases. Unfortunately, the check-in robots had trouble answering guests’questions, while others kept knocking into walls and falling over. An in-room robot assistant even said “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat your request?” when a guest snored (打鼾). Half of the robots were soon fired (解雇), and of course they didn’t get their tips, either. You Look Familiar! Facial recognition software can’t always recognize faces. When The American Civil Liberties tested the Recognition software it incorrectly matched photos of criminals (罪犯) to 28 government workers. But what about football recognition? During a match cameras programmed to follow the ball kept mistaking the judge’s bald head for the football. One helpful viewer suggested that the judge wear false hair. Stop the Press! In 2017, The Los Angeles Times reported a 1925 earthquake in Santa Barbara as recent. It turned out that the report was written by Quakebot, a computer program which automatically wrote news articles based on an official geological database (地质数据库). When a worker made a mistake while updating the historical data, Quakebot thought it was breaking news. Soon after, misled Southern Californians started worrying about an earthquake that happened almost 100 years ago! Quick, Go Get a Broom (扫帚)! ________ Let Jesse Newton tell you. His new pet dog left its mess on the floor at night while he and his wife were asleep. Their robot vacuum simply ran over the mess and spread it all over the house. Imagine waking up to a home that looks like a “poop painting”—not exactly the artwork you would want! 1．What happened to the robots at the Nagasaki hotel? A．Half of them get tips for their excellent service. B．Some of them had trouble doing their jobs. C．Most of them broke down and were no longer used. D．There were complaints about some of them being unfriendly. 2．In the “You Look Familiar” part, the writer gave ________ examples to show that robot recognition can fail. A．no B．one C．two D．three 3．The Quakebot is used at The Los Angeles Times for ________. A．writing articles B．predicting earthquakes C．updating historical data D．correcting mistakes in reports 4．What best fits the blank in the “Quick, Go Get a Broom!” A．How can a robot vacuum make your life better B．When is the best time to use a robot vacuum C．What’s the worst thing a robot vacuum can do D．What’s the difference between a robot vacuum and a broom 5．What’s the main idea of the article? A．Robots are being widely used in our daily lives. B．Robots will take over the world sooner or later. C．Robots are becoming more and more human-like D．Robot can make mistakes and fail in their given tasks. 6．You are likely to find this article in ________ section of a magazine. A．shopping B．technology C．advertisement D．sports Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation (灌溉) system in Sichuan, China. It was designed by Li Bing, a local governor, and built over 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty. Unlike modern dams (水坝), Dujiangyan has no walls to block water. Instead, it uses three main parts to control flooding and irrigate farmland. The first part is called the “Fish Mouth.” That’s because it looks like a fish’s mouth. It splits the Min River into two channels: an inner channel for irrigation and an outer channel for flood control. The second part is the “Flying Sand Fence.” It slows down the water and traps sediment (泥沙), preventing clogging (堵塞). The third part, the “Bottle Neck Channel,” acts like a valve (阀门). It releases water smoothly into farmland. Dujiangyan solved two major problems in ancient Sichuan: floods and droughts. Before its construction, floods destroyed crops every summer. In winter, however, droughts dried up fields. Today, Dujiangyan is still in use. It irrigates over 5,300 square kilometers of land, supporting six million people. In 2000, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site for its “scientific and technological genius.” 1．When was Dujiangyan built? A．During the Tang Dynasty. B．During the Qin Dynasty. C．During the Ming Dynasty. D．During the Qing Dynasty. 2．According to the article, Dujiangyan differs from modern dams because it ________. A．has no walls B．is made up of three parts C．supports six million people D．can irrigate farmland as well as control flooding 3．What problems did Dujiangyan solve in ancient Sichuan? ① Floods in summer.    ② Too much rainfall.    ③ Droughts in winter.    ④ Frequent earthquakes. A．①② B．③④ C．①③ D．②④ 4．Which part in the picture is the “Bottle Neck Channel”? A．Part 1. B．Part 2. C．Part 3. D．Part 4. 5．Which of the following statements is true based on the passage? A．Dujiangyan was built to generate electricity. B．Dujiangyan only irrigates farmland in Sichuan today. C．UNESCO praised Dujiangyan for its ancient engineering wisdom. D．The “Flying Sand Fence” speeds up water flow to prevent sediment buildup. 6．What is the best title for this passage? A．“How to Build a Dam.” B．“Li Bing: A Famous Governor.” C．“The History of Sichuan’s Floods.” D．“Dujiangyan: An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems.” ①What will the world of tomorrow be like? Many people today believe that technology (科技) is going to help solve some problems we have today. New technology may solve old problems, and it may also create new ones. No technology is perfect. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Here are three examples. ②When we dream about the future, many of us think that we will be able to fly to the sky in our own flying cars. We could fly at 480km per hour, avoiding traffic lights and busy roads. However, if too many flying cars are in the air, there will be trouble with traffic control. ③3-D printing is another new technology for the future. 3-D printers are already used to make life-size models of car parts  (部件), and man-made body parts, like ears. As we move into the future, 3-D printing will change the way we make things and the way we treat sick people. The disadvantage is that such a machine is very expensive. ④Finally, people are trying to make a robot suit (套装). This is an electronic suit. It allows people to lift heavy things and walk a long way. It might help people walk again after an illness or an accident. However, one disadvantage at the moment is the cost. ⑤It is easy to imagine a future. We will be able to fly to work, print out a new pair of shoes or lift a car above our heads. Although there are some problems to solve, we can certainly dream of a world. In this world, technology makes people's life easier and safer, and it can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today. 1．How does the writer start the passage? A．By asking a question. B．By giving a report. C．By giving advice. D．By telling a story. 2．What is an advantage of the robot suit mentioned in the passage? A．It can control air traffic for flying cars. B．It allows people to lift heavy objects and walk long distances. C．It reduces the cost of 3-D printed medical parts. D．It replaces the need for human workers in factories. 3．Which one of the following is NOT true? A．If too many flying cars are in the air, there will be problems with traffic control. B．3-D printing won't change the way we make things. C．A robot suit costs too much at the moment. D．Technology can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today. 4．What would be the best structure of this passage? A． B． C． D． 5．What is the theme (主题) of the passage? A．Traffic. B．Machines. C．Clothes. D．Technology. Choose the best answers. (根据短文内容，选择最恰当的答案。) Water is vital for life, but with growing populations and climate change, we must find smart solutions to use it wisely. Around the world, people are developing creative methods to save water in homes, farms, and cities. One interesting innovation is “smart showers”. These showers have sensors that turn off the water when you step away, saving up to 50% of water used in a normal shower. Another invention is “greywater recycling systems”, which reuse water from sinks and washing machines to flush toilets or water gardens. Farmers are also using new technology to reduce water waste. Drones with infrared (红外线的) cameras can detect which parts of a field need more water, helping farmers water only where necessary. Some places even use “fog nets”—large mesh (网状的) screens that collect water from fog in dry areas. Cities are making changes too. In Singapore, “NEWater” is purified wastewater that is safe to drink. Meanwhile, some schools teach students to track water use with digital meters, encouraging them to save water every day. Small actions matter too. Fixing leaks, using a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars, and planting drought-resistant plants can all help. If we combine new technology with good habits, we can protect our water for the future. 1．What do “smart showers” do to save water? A．Play music while working. B．Turn off water when not in use. C．Heat water faster. D．Make showers longer. 2．How do drones help farmers save water? A．By watering all crops equally. B．By detecting which areas need water. C．By scaring away birds. D．By planting seeds automatically. 3．What is “greywater recycling”? A．Throwing away dirty water. B．Reusing water from sinks or washing machines for toilets or gardens. C．Drinking seawater. D．Collecting rainwater in barrels. 4．What is special about Singapore’s “NEWater”? A．It comes from melted icebergs. B．It is purified wastewater. C．It is only for washing clothes. D．It tastes like fruit juice. 5．What is one simple way people can save water at home? A．Leaving the tap running while brushing teeth. B．Using a bucket instead of a hose to wash cars. C．Taking baths every day. D．Watering plants at noon. 重难语篇练习 . Inspiration: flexible elephant trunks and octopus tentacles Do you have any idea how flexible elephant trunks and octopus tentacles are? Can you imagine a robot that is like both of them? A group of scientists from a Chinese university has made a really smart spiral soft robot arm. This arm is almost as good as the human hand when it comes to picking up different things. Some videos showing how it works have been put out. In these videos you can see the tentacle-like robot arm do amazing things. It can easily pick up fragile things like glass, eggs, and strawberries without breaking them. It can also catch a fast-moving tennis ball quickly and hit a ping-pong ball accurately. The scientists, led by Nikolaos Frisis from the University of Science and Technology of China, used a method called reverse engineering. They copied the flexible structures that look like spirals in nature. Function Features: Grasp fragile items, quickly and accurately. The robot system, called SpiRobbs, which was made by learning from nature, can do very skillful movements to pick things up, such as reeling in, stretching out, winding around and grabbing things. According to a study published in the magazine Device, it has a success rate of nearly 95 percent. The spiral gripper, which has a 15-degree conical angle, is moved by two or three cables. It can pick up much larger things and can carry things that are 260 times heavier than itself, the study says. Also, the team used 3D printing to make models of different sizes, from centimeters to meters. They used cheap materials like polyurethane, resin and paper. This makes it more likely that these robots can be sold in the future. Application Prospect: Low-cost production via 3D printing In a test outside, a robot arm fixed on a drone was able to skillfully grab and lift a water bucket. This shows that it might be useful in the low-altitude economy area in the future. 1. octopus tentacles n. 章鱼触手    2. spiral n. 螺旋形 3. reverse engineering n. 逆向工程    4. reel v. 卷 5. stretch v. 拉长      6. wind v. 缠绕 7. grab v. 抓      8. gripper n. 抓手 9. polyurethane n. 聚氨酯    10. resin n. 合成树脂 11. low-altitude economy n. 低空经济 1．How does the writer start the passage? A．By giving examples. B．By asking questions. C．By comparing differences. D．By listing numbers. 2．What does the underlined word “fragile” probably mean in Chinese? A．透明的 B．精致的 C．轻巧的 D．易损的 3．What can we infer from the passage? A．The robot arms are not suitable for picking up heavy things. B．The robot arms will be seen in many different fields in life. C．The robot arms will replace human hands completely in the future. D．The robot arms can do many movements like spirals in nature. 4．What does the underlined word “This” refer to in the passage? A．Making models of different sizes. B．Considering 3D printing methods. C．Selling cheap robots in the future. D．Using not expensive materials. 5．What’s the author’s attitude towards the spiral soft robot arm? A．Doubtful. B．Uncertain. C．Disappointed. D．Supportive. 6．What is the main idea of the passage? A．The future development of the drones. B．The use of 3D printing in making robot arms. C．The introduction of a smart spiral soft robot arm. D．The importance of reverse engineering in robotics. In the 19th century, communication was a slow and laborious process. People relied on handwritten letters, which could take weeks or even months to reach their destination. The invention of the telegraph in the mid-1800s revolutionized communication, allowing messages to be sent over long distances in a matter of minutes. However, it was the advent of the telephone in the late 19th century that truly transformed how people interacted with one another. Fast forward to the 21st century, and communication has become almost instantaneous. With the rise of the Internet and smartphones, people can now send messages, make video calls, and share information with anyone around the globe in seconds. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Weibo have further changed the way we communicate, allowing users to share their thoughts, photos, and videos with a wide audience. Despite these advancements, some argue that modern communication lacks the personal touch of handwritten letters. In the past, letters were often carefully crafted, with attention paid to every word. Today, messages are often short and informal, with emojis and abbreviations replacing full sentences. However, others believe that the speed and convenience of modern communication outweigh these drawbacks. The evolution of communication has also had a significant impact on businesses. In the past, companies relied on mail and telephones to communicate with clients and partners. Today, email, video conferencing, and instant messaging have made it easier than ever to conduct business on a global scale. This has led to increased efficiency and productivity, but it has also created new challenges, such as the need to manage large volumes of digital information. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that communication will continue to evolve. Some experts predict that virtual reality and artificial intelligence will play a major role in the future of communication, allowing people to interact in more immersive and personalized ways. Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: the way we communicate will continue to change, just as it has for centuries. 1．What was the impact of the telegraph on communication in the 19th century? A．It made communication slower and more laborious. B．It allowed messages to be sent over long distances in minutes. C．It replaced handwritten letters entirely. D．It had no significant impact on communication. 2．Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a modern communication tool? A．Social media platforms. B．Video conferencing. C．Handwritten letters. D．Instant messaging. 3．What is the closest antonym for the underlined word “laborious” in the first paragraph? A．Easy. B．Difficult. C．Slow. D．Complicated. 4．Which of the following would be most important to include in a summary of the passage? A．The invention of the telegraph allowed messages to be sent quickly. B．Modern communication is faster but less personal than in the past. C．Virtual reality will change the way we communicate in the future. D．Businesses have benefited from the evolution of communication. 5．What is the main idea of the passage? A．The invention of the telephone revolutionized communication. B．Modern communication lacks the personal touch of handwritten letters. C．Communication has evolved significantly over time, from letters to instant messaging. D．Virtual reality will play a major role in the future of communication. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $