Section Ⅰ “Reading and Thinking”的课文习读环节
泛读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)理清文脉结构
(二)把握主旨大意
1．What is the purpose of the passage？( )
A．To sell integrated sensors.
B．To change the old houses.
C．To decorate home with smart technology.
D．To give us an insight into smart homes.
2．What is the audience of this text？( )
A．People who like designing new products.
B．People who dislike their present life.
C．People who welcome the technological life.
D．People who are particularly rich.
精读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)阅读理解
1．What is the purpose of the first paragraph？( )
A．To show it is common to forget to turn off the appliances.
B．To imply that smart homes will soon come into being.
C．To warn readers to be careful not to cause any trouble.
D．To make the theme of the passage known to readers.
[Tip]
根据写作手法推断写作意图
一般来说，在文章开头提出问题或介绍与主题有关的其他事物通常是为了导入主题(to bring in/to introduce the topic)，而举例或引用某人的话则是为了支持某一观点或传达某一看法(to support/to show ...)。结合本文首段的写作手法及选项可知，D项正确。
2．What will integrated sensors be used to do？( )
A．To switch off TVs and air conditioners.
B．To remind you when you should start off.
C．To control the home automatically.
D．To tell you when the dinner is ready.
3．Why does the author refer to a bed in the third paragraph？( )
A．To tell us that having a good sleep is vital.
B．To show how smart homes help monitor our health.
C．To replace a doctor in smart homes.
D．To show readers how comfortable it is.
4．What does the word “short” in paragraph 4 mean？( )
A．The quick approach to destination.
B．A smaller length or distance than usual.
C．Electric appliances' sudden failure.
D．Lacking or not having enough of a particular quality.
5．What can we learn from paragraph 5？( )
A．The homes in the future are the same as today.
B．Smart homes can make people full of imagination.
C．Much of the new equipment has been invented in some homes.
D．It will take some years before smart homes are completely put into use.
(二)阅读表达
1．How does the author start the first paragraph
___________________________________________________________________________
2．What does the author want to convey in paragraph 4 by describing how smart homes prevent serious damage from accidents
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3．Why will it take some years before most new homes begin to use this new technology
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
|阅|读|技|能|提|升| 理方法，明特点
本文的语篇类型为科普说明文，也叫科学小品文。读文时可采用下面阅读技法：
1．通览全文，明确说明对象
科学小品文属于说明文的范畴，阅读此类文章要先明确说明对象。科学小品文的标题往往会包含说明对象、范围和重点等，因此把握说明对象可以从标题入手。如本文通过标题可快速得出，这是一篇介绍未来智能家居的文章。
2．观察表达，分析说明方法
分析科学小品文的说明方法，有利于更深刻地把握说明对象的特征。科学小品文中常见的说明方法有下定义、作诠释、作比较、列数据、举例子、列图表、打比方和引用等。如本文采用作诠释、举例子的方法，形象地描述了智能家居在未来生活中的作用。
(一)赏用词之妙
In addition, your smart home will be monitoring your health for you every day.Your bed, for example, will record how well you sleep every night. It will also be checking your body weight.If you start to have sleep or weight problems, it will send a warning to your phone.It will also give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how to sleep better.
赏析：文中使用了monitor, record, check, send, give这一连串动词，形象地描绘出智能科技带来的体验感，非常具有画面感、代入感，引人遐想。
To keep the feet dry and comfortable, this new kind of shoes ①______________ a micro fan. When you ②__________， a small machine ③__________ the energy produced by walking into electric energy and ④__________ it. If you ⑤______________ walking, the micro fan can ⑥______________ immediately to ⑦______________.
为了让脚保持干燥和舒适，这种新型鞋配备了微型风扇。当你行走时，一台小型机器将行走产生的能量转化为电能并储存起来。如果你停止行走，微型风扇可以立即工作，让你的脚干燥。
(二)赏手法之高
Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house Or, have you ever forgotten to switch off the TV or computer
赏析：本文一开头用了两个问句导入主题，给人一种亲切、真实的感觉。这种方法可以激发读者的好奇心，鼓励他们积极地去探索问题的答案。
(三)赏描摹之韵(场景描写)
Your lights will come on the instant you enter the door along with your favourite music or TV programmes, and you will find your dinner already prepared for you.
赏析：本句描述了未来智能家居生活中，当你回到家时，各种智能家用设备自动为你服务的生活场景，感觉就像真的一样，这种有画面感的场景描述能让读者有一种身临其境的感觉。
When she ①__________________________， the lights came on suddenly. Her best friends Timmy and Florence were there, grinning! ②__________________________________________
当她走进昏暗的客厅时，灯突然亮了起来。她最好的朋友蒂米和弗洛伦斯也在那儿咧着嘴笑！桌上放着一个插着蜡烛的蛋糕和一堆礼物。
当今社会，科技迅猛发展。无人驾驶、卫星通信、各种人形机器人等正走进人们的视野，改变着人们的生产和生活。随着科技与人类生活联系日益紧密，随处可见的人工智能，让生活越发便利的同时也会带来一些问题。因此，在了解科技发展的最新成果和趋势，感受科技改变世界的深远影响的同时，还应学会更好地融入当下和未来的高科技生活。
Technology has brought ancient poets “back to life”. At the World Robot Conference 2023 in late August in Beijing, there were two robots that looked like the Chinese poets Li Bai and Du Fu.
These are called bionic (仿生的) robots.The robot's skin is usually made of silicone (硅胶)．CGTN explained in a video about Liaoning based producer. The robot's skin is very soft.You can even see veins under the skin.
Another human like robot also attracted attention recently.It was created by US company.Named Apollo, it has around 30 muscles. For now, the robot can only make simple movements, such as walking and waving. The robot's head has cameras and sensors inside. They can help it map out a 360 degree view of its environment. surfaces.
Nowadays, bionic human like robots mostly work with humans, such as by being tour guides or helping visitors at front desks. machines that look and act like them.They can “strike a chord (引起共鸣) with people”， a US robotics scientist Marc Raibert told New Yorker.
As more human like robots come out, safety will be the key, according to the Robot Report website. When a 70 kilogram robot breaks down and falls, humans nearby may get hurt.
[阅读理解]
1．What is the skin of bionic robots usually made of？( )
A．Muscles. B．Silicone.
C．Veins. D．Cameras.
2．What can the cameras and sensors inside Apollo's head do？( )
A．Make it look more human like.
B．Help it make complex movements.
C．Allow it to communicate with humans.
D．Map out its environment and keep balance.
3．What is the main idea of paragraph 4？( )
A．The functions of bionic human like robots.
B．The appearance of bionic human like robots.
C．The reason why bionic human like robots work with humans.
D．The development of bionic human like robots.
[素养积累]
1．由文积词汇
conference n． 会议
vein n. 血管
muscle n. 肌肉
sensor n. 传感器
unstable adj. 不稳定的
break down 出故障
2．据文悟句式
句①：while引导的时间状语从句。
句②：“when＋现在分词”省略结构。
句③：because引导的表语从句中嵌套有that引导的定语从句。
Section Ⅰ
课文阅读理解
泛读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)①secure ②comfortable ③automatic ④Monitoring
⑤Preventing
(二)1.D 2.C
精读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)1～5 DCBCD
(二)1.Using questions to stir up readers' interest.
2．The writer wants to convey that smart homes are much safer than ordinary homes.
3．Because of the high cost, imperfect technology, risk of leaking personal information, unpopularity among senior citizens, and so on.
课文写法借鉴
(一)①is equipped with ②walk ③changes ④stores ⑤stop ⑥work ⑦dry your feet
(三)①entered the darkened living room
②On the table were a cake with candles and a pile of presents.
美文阅读润心
1～3 BDC
6 / 6(共61张PPT)
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
UNIT 2
把握单元素养目标
主题意识 本单元围绕“展望未来”这一主题展开，反映了人们对未来生活与技术发展的期待与担忧，鼓励学生思考现代科技发展对未来人类生活的影响和意义。
语法项目 理解并正确运用将来进行时。
语言输入 听 听懂并理解预测未来科技和生活的访谈。
读 阅读杂志专栏文章和议论文，理解其语篇结构和语言特点。
看 能通过图文和视频，了解科技发展，获取有效信息。
语言输出 写 能运用正反两方面的观点和论据，完成讨论科技发展利弊的议论文的写作。
说 能有条理地分析科技发展对未来的影响，表达自己的观点。
续表
“Reading and Thinking”
的课文习读环节
Section Ⅰ
课文阅读理解
课文写法借鉴
美文阅读润心
课时跟踪检测
Contents 目录
01
02
03
04
01
课文阅读理解
泛读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)理清文脉结构
secure
comfortable
automatic
Monitoring
Preventing
(二)把握主旨大意
1．What is the purpose of the passage？
A．To sell integrated sensors.
B．To change the old houses.
C．To decorate home with smart technology.
D．To give us an insight into smart homes.
√
2．What is the audience of this text？
A．People who like designing new products.
B．People who dislike their present life.
C．People who welcome the technological life.
D．People who are particularly rich.
√
精读课文，完成以下学习任务
(一)阅读理解
1．What is the purpose of the first paragraph？
A．To show it is common to forget to turn off the appliances.
B．To imply that smart homes will soon come into being.
C．To warn readers to be careful not to cause any trouble.
D．To make the theme of the passage known to readers.
√
[Tip]
根据写作手法推断写作意图
一般来说，在文章开头提出问题或介绍与主题有关的其他事物通常是为了导入主题(to bring in/to introduce the topic)，而举例或引用某人的话则是为了支持某一观点或传达某一看法(to support/to show ...)。结合本文首段的写作手法及选项可知，D项正确。
2．What will integrated sensors be used to do？
A．To switch off TVs and air conditioners.
B．To remind you when you should start off.
C．To control the home automatically.
D．To tell you when the dinner is ready.
√
3．Why does the author refer to a bed in the third paragraph？
A．To tell us that having a good sleep is vital.
B．To show how smart homes help monitor our health.
C．To replace a doctor in smart homes.
D．To show readers how comfortable it is.
√
4．What does the word “short” in paragraph 4 mean？
A．The quick approach to destination.
B．A smaller length or distance than usual.
C．Electric appliances' sudden failure.
D．Lacking or not having enough of a particular quality.
√
5．What can we learn from paragraph 5？
A．The homes in the future are the same as today.
B．Smart homes can make people full of imagination.
C．Much of the new equipment has been invented in some homes.
D．It will take some years before smart homes are completely put into use.
√
(二)阅读表达
1．How does the author start the first paragraph？
______________________________________
2．What does the author want to convey in paragraph 4 by describing how smart homes prevent serious damage from accidents？
___________________________________________________________________________
Using questions to stir up readers' interest.
The writer wants to convey that smart homes are much safer than ordinary homes.
3．Why will it take some years before most new homes begin to use this new technology？
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Because of the high cost， imperfect technology， risk of leaking personal information， unpopularity among senior citizens， and so on.
|阅|读|技|能|提|升| 理方法，明特点
本文的语篇类型为科普说明文，也叫科学小品文。读文时可采用下面阅读技法：
1．通览全文，明确说明对象
科学小品文属于说明文的范畴，阅读此类文章要先明确说明对象。科学小品文的标题往往会包含说明对象、范围和重点等，因此把握说明对象可以从标题入手。如本文通过标题可快速得出，这是一篇介绍未来智能家居的文章。
2．观察表达，分析说明方法
分析科学小品文的说明方法，有利于更深刻地把握说明对象的特征。科学小品文中常见的说明方法有下定义、作诠释、作比较、列数据、举例子、列图表、打比方和引用等。如本文采用作诠释、举例子的方法，形象地描述了智能家居在未来生活中的作用。
02
课文写法借鉴
(一)赏用词之妙
In addition， your smart home will be monitoring your health for you every day.Your bed， for example， will record how well you sleep every night. It will also be checking your body weight.If you start to have sleep or weight problems， it will send a warning to your phone.It will also give you suggestions on a healthier diet and how to sleep better.
赏析：文中使用了monitor， record， check， send， give这一连串动词，形象地描绘出智能科技带来的体验感，非常具有画面感、代入感，引人遐想。
提能训练/补全语段
To keep the feet dry and comfortable， this new kind of shoes ①_______________ a micro-fan. When you ②_____， a small machine ③_______ the energy produced by walking into electric energy and ④______ it. If you ⑤_____ walking， the micro-fan can ⑥_____ immediately to ⑦____________.
为了让脚保持干燥和舒适，这种新型鞋配备了微型风扇。当你行走时，一台小型机器将行走产生的能量转化为电能并储存起来。如果你停止行走，微型风扇可以立即工作，让你的脚干燥。
is equipped with
walk
changes
stores
stop
work
dry your feet
(二)赏手法之高
Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house？ Or， have you ever forgotten to switch off the TV or computer？
赏析：本文一开头用了两个问句导入主题，给人一种亲切、真实的感觉。这种方法可以激发读者的好奇心，鼓励他们积极地去探索问题的答案。
(三)赏描摹之韵(场景描写)
Your lights will come on the instant you enter the door along with your favourite music or TV programmes， and you will find your dinner already prepared for you.
赏析：本句描述了未来智能家居生活中，当你回到家时，各种智能家用设备自动为你服务的生活场景，感觉就像真的一样，这种有画面感的场景描述能让读者有一种身临其境的感觉。
提能训练/补全语段
When she ①_____________________________， the lights came on suddenly. Her best friends Timmy and Florence were there， grinning! ②___________________________________________________
________
当她走进昏暗的客厅时，灯突然亮了起来。她最好的朋友蒂米和弗洛伦斯也在那儿咧着嘴笑！桌上放着一个插着蜡烛的蛋糕和一堆礼物。
entered the darkened living room
On the table were a cake with candles and a pile of presents.
03
美文阅读润心
当今社会，科技迅猛发展。无人驾驶、卫星通信、各种人形机器人等正走进人们的视野，改变着人们的生产和生活。随着科技与人类生活联系日益紧密，随处可见的人工智能，让生活越发便利的同时也会带来一些问题。因此，在了解科技发展的最新成果和趋势，感受科技改变世界的深远影响的同时，还应学会更好地融入当下和未来的高科技生活。
Technology has brought ancient poets “back to life”. At the World Robot Conference 2023 in late August in Beijing, there were two robots that looked like the Chinese poets Li Bai and Du Fu. While Li Bai was holding up a cup of wine， Du Fu was sitting at a desk， writing.
These are called bionic (仿生的) robots.The robot's skin is usually made of silicone (硅胶)．CGTN explained in a video about Liaoning based producer. The robot's skin is very soft.You can even see veins under the skin.
①
Another human like robot also attracted attention recently.It was created by US company.Named Apollo, it has around 30 muscles. For now，the robot can only make simple movements, such as walking and waving. The robot's head has cameras and sensors inside. They can help it map out a 360 degree view of its environment. They also help the robot keep balance when walking on unstable surfaces.
②
Nowadays, bionic human like robots mostly work with humans, such as by being tour guides or helping visitors at front desks. This could be because people are comfortable living and working with machines that look and act like them.They can “strike a chord (引起共鸣) with people，” a US robotics scientist Marc Raibert told New Yorker.
As more human like robots come out, safety will be the key, according to the Robot Report website. When a 70 kilogram robot breaks down and falls, humans nearby may get hurt.
③
[阅读理解]
1．What is the skin of bionic robots usually made of？
A．Muscles. B．Silicone.
C．Veins. D．Cameras.
√
2．What can the cameras and sensors inside Apollo's head do？
A．Make it look more human-like.
B．Help it make complex movements.
C．Allow it to communicate with humans.
D．Map out its environment and keep balance.
√
3．What is the main idea of paragraph 4？
A．The functions of bionic human-like robots.
B．The appearance of bionic human-like robots.
C．The reason why bionic human-like robots work with humans.
D．The development of bionic human-like robots.
√
[素养积累]
1．由文积词汇
conference n． 会议
vein n. 血管
muscle n. 肌肉
sensor n. 传感器
unstable adj. 不稳定的
break down 出故障
2．据文悟句式
句①：while引导的时间状语从句。
句②：“when＋现在分词”省略结构。
句③：because引导的表语从句中嵌套有that引导的定语从句。
04
课时跟踪检测
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
Winners of the Broadcom MASTERS
Girls took the top prizes at the Broadcom MASTERS， a science competition for middle school students.
Alaina Gassler
Alaina won the $25，000 Samueli Foundation Prize for the project of reducing blind spots in cars.She was inspired to solve this issue by her mother who didn't like driving her vehicle because its large A-pillar (A柱) design made her feel in danger.“I started to think about how blind spots were a huge problem in all cars，” said Alaina.So she worked on it and solved it.
Sidor Clare
Sidor won the $10，000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation， an honor made by Samueli's generous donation of his 2012 Marconi Society Prize Award.She developed bricks that could one day be made on Mars， so that humans wouldn't be required to carry building materials with them in order to build there.
Alexis MacAvoy
Alexis won the $10，000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement， which recognized the student whose work and performance showed the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrated an understanding of the many social factors that affect health.She designed a water filter (过滤器) by using carbon to remove heavy metals from water.
Rachel Bergey
Rachel won the $10，000 Lemelson Award for Invention， awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.She developed a trap made of tinfoil (锡纸) and netting for the spotted lanternfly， an invasive species causing damage to trees.
语篇解读：本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了四个学生的发明以及各自的特点。
1．What is the purpose of Alaina Gassler's invention？
A．To beautify vehicles.
B．To improve the safety of driving.
C．To decorate the sidewalk for the blind.
D．To reduce the carbon released from cars.
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段“She was inspired ...said Alaina.”可知，阿莱娜·加斯勒的发明的目的是提高驾驶安全性。
√
2．Whose invention is related to human health？
A．Alaina Gassler's. B．Sidor Clare's.
C．Rachel Bergey's. D．Alexis MacAvoy's.
解析：细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Alexis won the ...affect health.”可知，Alexis MacAvoy的发明与人类健康有关。
√
3．What is the Broadcom MASTERS about？
A．Art. B．Sport.
C．Technology. D．Education.
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段“Girls took the top prizes at the Broadcom MASTERS， a science competition for middle school students.”可知，Broadcom MASTERS主要与科技有关。
√
B
How can people speak their mind without saying anything？ This is a question that scientists have aimed to answer for a long time.Researchers recently brought an upgraded device that can translate users' brain waves into daily speech.
Previously， the team led by Edward Chang at the University of California， San Francisco， developed an AI-based system that can identify up to 50 commonly used words based on the participant's brain waves.The participant was a paralyzed (瘫痪的) man who had been implanted with 16 electrodes (电极) under his skull.
According to their paper published in November， the team upgraded the system which can now translate thoughts into complete sentences on a computer screen.
Their tests showed that the device could decode silently spoken letters from a 1，152-word vocabulary at a speed of about 29 characters per minute.The accuracy was up to 94 percent.“It shows strong promise for restoring communication by tapping into the brain's natural speech machinery，” Chang said to the university's news website.
However， this method can still be problematic since users still need to undergo surgery.Scientists at the University of Texas， US， have tried to translate people's thoughts without even touching their heads， reported Live Science.
The new technique is called fMRI， or functional magnetic resonance imaging (功能性磁共振成像)．It's a safer way of “reading” brain activity.Active brain cells have more oxygen.By tracking these cells， scientists can translate brain activity.
The team asked participants to listen to 16 hours of radio shows while scanning their brains.Then they used a computer algorithm (算法) to create a story based on the fMRI recording.It matched the radio shows pretty well.
Also， the algorithm could basically explain the story of a silent movie that the participants watched.The team aims to develop this technology so that it can be used in brain-computer interfaces (脑机接口) designed for people who cannot speak or type.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一款基于人工智能系统的升级设备，研究人员用该设备可以将人类脑电波转换成日常语言。
4．What do we know about the device mentioned in paragraph 2？
A．It was implanted into a man's heart.
B．It can help restore patients' lost memory.
C．It was developed through cooperation.
D．It can identify about 50 rarely used words.
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段内容可知，该设备是由Edward Chang领导的团队开发出来的，是通过合作研发出来的。
√
5．How does fMRI “read” people's minds？
A．By tracking their active brain cells.
B．By putting electrodes into their brains.
C．By recording their reaction to radio shows.
D．By matching their brain activity with their habits.
解析：细节理解题。根据第六段中的“Active brain cells have more oxygen.By tracking these cells， scientists can translate brain activity.”可知，fMRI是通过追踪活跃的脑细胞去读懂人们的思想的。
√
6．Why is fMRI chosen compared to the first device mentioned in the story？
A．It's cheaper. B．It's more accurate.
C．It's smaller in size. D．It's safer.
解析：细节理解题。根据第五段内容以及第六段中的“The new technique is called fMRI ... a safer way of ‘reading’ brain activity.”可知，该设备比之前的设备更加安全。
√
7．What can be concluded about fMRI from the last two paragraphs？
A．It can only read what participants hear.
B．It can be used in brain-computer interfaces.
C．It can read every detail of participants' minds.
D．It cannot work out what people imagine in their heads.
解析：推理判断题。根据最后两段内容可知，它可以用于脑机接口。
√
Ⅱ.阅读七选五
The recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have aroused heated debate globally.As science fiction starts to become reality， AI products are now slowly coming into homes and workplaces. ____ Will unemployment rate become higher in the future？ Will low-end labors cause social unrest (动荡)？
8
However， more optimistically speaking， I believe that AI is a great helper， and the focus of AI should not be just on cool devices or automation. _____ AI has the potential to greatly improve things like healthcare， education， poverty and security.AI machines can do some very beneficial things today that humans will simply never be able to do.
9
And of course， AI is just used to make up for the disadvantages of the human mind， not to replace it. _____ We process millions of sensory inputs automatically， allowing us to learn and respond to our environment.
But the human brain only contains about 300 million pattern processors that are responsible for human thought.What if we could complement (补足) all of our amazing ideas with not just more data， but also more data processing capability？_____
10
11
“Precision medicine” (精准医疗) is a great example to illustrate AI's positive impact when we equip it with human skills.Precision medicine is an emerging approach to disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes， environment， and lifestyle for each person. _____ For example， around 25，000 people in the US are diagnosed with brain tumors (肿瘤) every year.Traditionally， they might all be given the same course of treatment to see what might work in a one-size-fits-all approach.Precision medicine will allow doctors and researchers to predict more accurately which treatment and prevention strategies for a particular disease will work in which groups of people.
12
A．Our life is becoming more and more convenient.
B．Think of it as a type of personalized medical care.
C．The human brain is the most elegant computer in existence.
D．Imagine how we would rethink every single problem that exists today.
E．Instead， we can rethink how to solve the world's existing problems with AI.
F．Precision medicine helps doctors and nurses figure out what the problem is.
G．This is raising concerns about the potential harmful effects of AI on the job market.
语篇解读：本文是一篇议论文。文章论述了人工智能产品给人们生活带来的各种影响。
8．选G 根据上下文可知，此处在讲人们对人工智能给就业市场带来的影响的担忧。故G选项“这正在引起人们对人工智能给就业市场带来的潜在有害影响的担忧”承上启下，符合语境。
9．选E 根据上下文可知，人工智能能够带来很多好处，可以帮助人们解决一些现存的问题。E选项“相反，我们可以重新思考如何用人工智能解决世界上现存的问题”承上启下，符合语境。
10．选C 上文提到人工智能是对人脑缺陷的弥补，而非替代，下文提到人脑的诸多功能，故C选项“人类的大脑是现存的最优雅的计算机”承上启下，符合语境。
11．选D 根据本段内容可知，此处在讲述对现存问题的反思。故D选项“想象一下我们将如何重新思考今天存在的每一个问题”承接上文，符合语境。
12．选B 根据空前一句及下文的举例可知，此处指人工智能能够给人提供个性化的医疗护理。故B选项“把它看作是一种个性化的医疗护理”承上启下，符合语境。UNIT 2 LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
UNIT 2 课时检测(一) “Reading and Thinking”的课文习读环节
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
Winners of the Broadcom MASTERS
Girls took the top prizes at the Broadcom MASTERS, a science competition for middle school students.
Alaina Gassler
Alaina won the $25,000 Samueli Foundation Prize for the project of reducing blind spots in cars.She was inspired to solve this issue by her mother who didn't like driving her vehicle because its large A pillar (A柱) design made her feel in danger.“I started to think about how blind spots were a huge problem in all cars，” said Alaina.So she worked on it and solved it.
Sidor Clare
Sidor won the $10,000 Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation, an honor made by Samueli's generous donation of his 2012 Marconi Society Prize Award.She developed bricks that could one day be made on Mars, so that humans wouldn't be required to carry building materials with them in order to build there.
Alexis MacAvoy
Alexis won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognized the student whose work and performance showed the most promise in health related fields and demonstrated an understanding of the many social factors that affect health.She designed a water filter (过滤器) by using carbon to remove heavy metals from water.
Rachel Bergey
Rachel won the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real world problems.She developed a trap made of tinfoil (锡纸) and netting for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species causing damage to trees.
1．What is the purpose of Alaina Gassler's invention
A．To beautify vehicles.
B．To improve the safety of driving.
C．To decorate the sidewalk for the blind.
D．To reduce the carbon released from cars.
2．Whose invention is related to human health
A．Alaina Gassler's. B．Sidor Clare's.
C．Rachel Bergey's. D．Alexis MacAvoy's.
3．What is the Broadcom MASTERS about
A．Art. B．Sport.
C．Technology. D．Education.
B
How can people speak their mind without saying anything This is a question that scientists have aimed to answer for a long time.Researchers recently brought an upgraded device that can translate users' brain waves into daily speech.
Previously, the team led by Edward Chang at the University of California, San Francisco, developed an AI based system that can identify up to 50 commonly used words based on the participant's brain waves.The participant was a paralyzed (瘫痪的) man who had been implanted with 16 electrodes (电极) under his skull.
According to their paper published in November, the team upgraded the system which can now translate thoughts into complete sentences on a computer screen.
Their tests showed that the device could decode silently spoken letters from a 1,152 word vocabulary at a speed of about 29 characters per minute.The accuracy was up to 94 percent.“It shows strong promise for restoring communication by tapping into the brain's natural speech machinery，” Chang said to the university's news website.
However, this method can still be problematic since users still need to undergo surgery.Scientists at the University of Texas, US, have tried to translate people's thoughts without even touching their heads, reported Live Science.
The new technique is called fMRI, or functional magnetic resonance imaging (功能性磁共振成像)．It's a safer way of “reading” brain activity.Active brain cells have more oxygen.By tracking these cells, scientists can translate brain activity.
The team asked participants to listen to 16 hours of radio shows while scanning their brains.Then they used a computer algorithm (算法) to create a story based on the fMRI recording.It matched the radio shows pretty well.
Also, the algorithm could basically explain the story of a silent movie that the participants watched.The team aims to develop this technology so that it can be used in brain computer interfaces (脑机接口) designed for people who cannot speak or type.
4．What do we know about the device mentioned in paragraph 2
A．It was implanted into a man's heart.
B．It can help restore patients' lost memory.
C．It was developed through cooperation.
D．It can identify about 50 rarely used words.
5．How does fMRI “read” people's minds
A．By tracking their active brain cells.
B．By putting electrodes into their brains.
C．By recording their reaction to radio shows.
D．By matching their brain activity with their habits.
6．Why is fMRI chosen compared to the first device mentioned in the story
A．It's cheaper. B．It's more accurate.
C．It's smaller in size. D．It's safer.
7．What can be concluded about fMRI from the last two paragraphs
A．It can only read what participants hear.
B．It can be used in brain computer interfaces.
C．It can read every detail of participants' minds.
D．It cannot work out what people imagine in their heads.
Ⅱ.阅读七选五
The recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have aroused heated debate globally.As science fiction starts to become reality, AI products are now slowly coming into homes and workplaces.__8__ Will unemployment rate become higher in the future Will low end labors cause social unrest (动荡)
However, more optimistically speaking, I believe that AI is a great helper, and the focus of AI should not be just on cool devices or automation.__9__ AI has the potential to greatly improve things like healthcare, education, poverty and security.AI machines can do some very beneficial things today that humans will simply never be able to do.
And of course, AI is just used to make up for the disadvantages of the human mind, not to replace it.__10__ We process millions of sensory inputs automatically, allowing us to learn and respond to our environment.
But the human brain only contains about 300 million pattern processors that are responsible for human thought.What if we could complement (补足) all of our amazing ideas with not just more data, but also more data processing capability __11__
“Precision medicine” (精准医疗) is a great example to illustrate AI's positive impact when we equip it with human skills.Precision medicine is an emerging approach to disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.__12__ For example, around 25,000 people in the US are diagnosed with brain tumors (肿瘤) every year.Traditionally, they might all be given the same course of treatment to see what might work in a one size fits all approach.Precision medicine will allow doctors and researchers to predict more accurately which treatment and prevention strategies for a particular disease will work in which groups of people.
A．Our life is becoming more and more convenient.
B．Think of it as a type of personalized medical care.
C．The human brain is the most elegant computer in existence.
D．Imagine how we would rethink every single problem that exists today.
E．Instead, we can rethink how to solve the world's existing problems with AI.
F．Precision medicine helps doctors and nurses figure out what the problem is.
G．This is raising concerns about the potential harmful effects of AI on the job market.
UNIT 2 课时检测(一)
Ⅰ.阅读理解
[A]
语篇解读：本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了四个学生的发明以及各自的特点。
1．选B 细节理解题。根据第二段“She was inspired ...said Alaina.”可知，阿莱娜·加斯勒的发明的目的是提高驾驶安全性。
2．选D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Alexis won the ...affect health.”可知，Alexis MacAvoy的发明与人类健康有关。
3．选C 细节理解题。根据第一段“Girls took the top prizes at the Broadcom MASTERS, a science competition for middle school students.”可知，Broadcom MASTERS主要与科技有关。
[B]
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一款基于人工智能系统的升级设备，研究人员用该设备可以将人类脑电波转换成日常语言。
4．选C 细节理解题。根据第二段内容可知，该设备是由Edward Chang领导的团队开发出来的，是通过合作研发出来的。
5．选A 细节理解题。根据第六段中的“Active brain cells have more oxygen.By tracking these cells, scientists can translate brain activity.”可知，fMRI是通过追踪活跃的脑细胞去读懂人们的思想的。
6．选D 细节理解题。根据第五段内容以及第六段中的“The new technique is called fMRI ... a safer way of ‘reading’ brain activity.”可知，该设备比之前的设备更加安全。
7．选B 推理判断题。根据最后两段内容可知，它可以用于脑机接口。
Ⅱ.阅读七选五
语篇解读：本文是一篇议论文。文章论述了人工智能产品给人们生活带来的各种影响。
8．选G 根据上下文可知，此处在讲人们对人工智能给就业市场带来的影响的担忧。故G选项“这正在引起人们对人工智能给就业市场带来的潜在有害影响的担忧”承上启下，符合语境。
9．选E 根据上下文可知，人工智能能够带来很多好处，可以帮助人们解决一些现存的问题。E选项“相反，我们可以重新思考如何用人工智能解决世界上现存的问题”承上启下，符合语境。
10．选C 上文提到人工智能是对人脑缺陷的弥补，而非替代，下文提到人脑的诸多功能，故C选项“人类的大脑是现存的最优雅的计算机”承上启下，符合语境。
11．选D 根据本段内容可知，此处在讲述对现存问题的反思。故D选项“想象一下我们将如何重新思考今天存在的每一个问题”承接上文，符合语境。
12．选B 根据空前一句及下文的举例可知，此处指人工智能能够给人提供个性化的医疗护理。故B选项“把它看作是一种个性化的医疗护理”承上启下，符合语境。
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