WASHINGTON --- It’s a great achievement that inspires concepts of robots with consciousness and independent minds.
When people or animals get hurt, they can usually compensate for minor injuries and keep limping along, but for robots, even slight damage can make them stumble and fall. However, a recently made robot has demonstrated a new ability: it can heal its own damage.
The new robot, which looks like a splay-legged (弓形腿的), four-footed starfish, can sense injury to itself and adapt. That ability sets the new robot apart from earlier machines. Because the robot can recover from unfamiliar places.
“There is a need for planetary robotic rovers (行星機(jī)器探測(cè)車) to be able to fix things on their own,” says Josh Bongard, a professor in the University of Vermont, who is one of the device’s creator. “Robots on other planets must be able to continue their mission without human help if they are damaged and cannot communicate their problem back to Earth.”
A typical robot functions according to a computer program, but the new robot works differently. First, sensors in its four legs observe the robot’s movements and signals to its built-in computer. From the information it collects, the robot creates its own programs that allow it to adapt to different situations. For example, when the researchers shortened one of the robot’s legs, the smart machine simply adjusted its way of walking—it used three legs instead of four.
The researchers are looking for other places to put the resilient robot to work. One spot is the ocean floor. That dark and dangerous undersea area might be a good choice for a robot that the scientists call the Starfish. “We never officially named the robot, but we usually refer to it as the Starfish, even though a real starfish has five rather than four legs,” says Bongard. “Also, a real starfish is much better than our robot at recovering from injury, because it can actually grow its legs again.” Scientists have created robots that help humans in many ways: by exploring space, fighting fires, and even performing surgery.
小題1:The newly designed robot distinguishes itself from the former ones because it________.

A．can communicate with people on the earth about their problems

B．works according to a certain computer program

C．can find its problems and solve them automatically

D．can explore unfamiliar places

小題2:An example is given in the fourth paragraph in order to explain that the robot ________.

A．is used to create new programs

B．has typical robot functions

C．has sensors to observe its movements

D．can gather information and adapt to new conditions

小題3:Which of the following is TRUE about the robot “Starfish”?

A．It was spoken highly of by people for its special ability.

B．It will stumble and fall if damaged.

C．It can grow its legs again once they are broken.

D．It has started to work on the ocean floor.

小題4:What might be the best title of the passage?

A．How the Starfish Robot Works

B．Do-It-Yourself Robot Repair

C．Robots Designed to Work on Other Planets

D．New Robot Helping Us in Many Ways

Here is a true story about a famous man who worked in the White House and a criminal. They once faced the same thing: their mother gave them apples when they were young.
The criminal said: one day, my mother brought some apples and asked my brother and me: “Which do you want?” “The reddest and biggest one,” my little brother said. My mother stared at him and said to him angrily: “You should learn to give the good things to others; you shouldn’t always think of yourself.” Seeing this, I suddenly changed my idea and then said to my mother: “Mum, please give me the smaller one and give the bigger one to my little brother.” Hearing my words, my mother was very happy. She kissed me on my face and gave the reddest and biggest apple to me as a prize. From then on, I learned to tell lies, fight, steal and rob. In order to get what I wanted, I played hard. As a result, I was sent into prison.
The famous man from the White House said: One day, my mother brought some apples. She said to my brother and me: “You all want the reddest and biggest one, right? Well, let’s have a competition. Now I divided the grassland in front of the gate into two and I will give one to each of you and you must shear(修剪) it well. And I will give the reddest and biggest apple to him who does it the most quickly and best.”
After the competition, I won and I got the biggest apple. In our family, as long as you want to get the best things, you must take part in competition. I think it is fair. No matter what you want, you must pay lots of efforts.
小題1:The criminal got the reddest and biggest apple because      .

A．he told the truth that he wanted a smaller one

B．he knew how to make his mother happy from her answer

C．elder brother should of course have the bigger one

D．his mother loved him more than she loved the younger brother

小題2:We can conclude from the passage that      .

A．it’s wrong to ask children to choose apples when they are not old enough

B．it’s important to make children aware that no matter what they want, they must pay work

C．it’s wrong to ask children not to always think of themselves

D．it’s always necessary to have a competition when we give children apple

小題3:The writer tells the story by      .

A．organizing it in the order of time

B．making a comparison between two men

C．providing some scientific information

D．describing it in the order of space

小題4:It is implied in the passage that      .

A．we should always try to win competitions which can bring us a lot

B．in order to get what we want, we should play hard

C．a(chǎn) mother’s educational method has a great influence on a child’s growing

D．giving children apples will lead them to become criminals

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從41─60各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
Nowadays 41  children go to school  42 few of them have ever asked themselves  43  they go there. Some children think that they go to school just to learn their mother tongue, English and other foreign languages, history, science,   44 and a few other  45 . But why do they learn these things? Are these the only things they should learn at school?
Actually children go to school to  46  themselves for the time when they will be grown up and will have to  47  themselves. They learn their own language   48 they will be able to  49 with people in foreign countries, make friends with them and learn  50  about their culture and history. They learn mathematics in order to be able to measure the things around them and calculate sums.  51 helps them understand something about the world around them and history teaches them about the past and people. Nearly everything they study at school has some use  52  in their  53 , but there is one more  54 reason why children go to school.
It is more important to receive education than just learning  55 .We go to school  56 to learn how to learn. Learning is not just for school but for life. So even after we have left school, we have to continue to learn. A man who  57 knows how to learn will always be  58 because whenever he is faced with a completely new task or problem, he will teach himself how to deal with it in the best way.  59 , children do not go to school just to learn languages, mathematics, geography, etc. They go to school to  60 how to learn.

小題1:	A．some B．most C．few D．a(chǎn)ll

小題2:	A．but B．so C．a(chǎn)nd D．because

小題3:	A．how B．when C．why D．that

小題4:	A．cooking B．sowing C．playing D．geography

小題5:	A．subjects B．skills C．languages D．games

小題6:	A．make B．prepare C．teach D．study

小題7:	A．teach B．support C．live D．work

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)nd B．in order to C．so as to D．so that

小題9:	A．communicate B．work C．talk D．study

小題10:

A．everything B．a(chǎn)nything C．something D．nothing

小題11:

A．Foreign languages B．Mathematics C．History D．Geography

小題12:

A．practical B．special C．different D．importance

小題13:

A．work B．lives C．study D．communication

小題14:

A．difficult B．unusual C．important D．kind

小題15:

A．foreign languages B．science C．mathematics D．facts

小題16:

A．a(chǎn)bove all B．a(chǎn)t all C．in all D．for all

小題17:

A．doesn’t B．never C．really D．may

小題18:

A．unsuccessful B．calm C．successful D．useful

小題19:

A．Although B．But C．However D．Therefore

小題20:

A．begin B．work C．live D．learn

If you are planning to study in the United States, you need to consider several factors. Everyone has different opinions about where is the best place to live in. Also, the best places to live are not always home to the best schools. Finally, many schools specialize in different areas of study. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, is a great school for computer science and technology-related fields of study. However, if you want to study oceanography（海洋學(xué)）, your interests may be better served by attending school in a place that is on a coastline or near the ocean.
Now I am sure that you know which schools are considered the best in the country. So I will tell you about which states I believe are the best to live in.
California is a nice state. Northern California specifically has very good weather. Los Angeles in Southern California is another story though. Life in Los Angeles is full of excitement and fast, and sometimes dangerous. As for me, I enjoy the time I spent in Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland and these states have a lot of history and culture. The weather is not as perfect as California, but it is still quite nice. My favorite area of America is the Mid-west. Middle America, I think, is home to the true American sense of values. In addition, there are many good universities there.
Also, you need to think about your likes and dislikes and then research the various states. You like sunshine and hate snow? Then you probably won’t like the Midwest or even the Northeast. Open space, nature and peace and quiet? Then you probably should stay away from America’s large cities. Are you interested in government? Then Washington D.C. is the only place for you. Whatever you decide, put some thought into it. The place you live could be the difference between a great study-abroad experience and a state of great suffering on earth.
小題1:From the first paragraph we can conclude （得出結(jié)論）that in the USA _______.

A．a(chǎn)ll colleges and universities lie in big cities

B．a(chǎn)ll colleges and universities lie in beautiful places

C．famous colleges and universities lie in nice places

D．famous colleges and universities may not lie in nice places

小題2:What should be considered first if you want to study in the USA?

A．The climate.

B．The scenery.

C．The study condition.

D．The living condition.

小題3:From the third paragraph we can find that _______.

A．California is the best place to live in

B．California is the worst place to live in

C．California is a state with different climates

D．California is a small state in the USA

小題4:If you study in Middle America, you can probably _______.

A．find the best universities	B．feel the real character of the nation
C．meet the most famous professors there	D．face more difficulties

小題5: From the last paragraph of this passage we can get to know that _______.

A．Washington is the largest city in the USA

B．Washington is the political centre of the USA

C．you can’t find sunshine in the Midwest

D．you can’t find any universities out of big cities in the USA

Parents often believe that they have a good relationship（關(guān)系）with their teenagers. But last summer, Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son: suddenly he seemed to be talking more to his friends than to his parents. “The door to his room is always shut,” Joanna noted.
Tina and Mark noticed similar changed in their 14-year-old daughter. “She used to cuddle up (蜷伏) with me on the sofa and talk,” said Mark. “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something. Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady.”
Before age 11, children like to tell their parents what’s on their minds. “In fact, parents are first on the list,” said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. “This completely changes during the teen years,” Riera explained. “They talk to their friends first, then maybe their teachers, and their parents last.”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them. To break down the wall of silence, parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say, and try to find ways to talk and write to them. And they must give their children a mental break(休息), for children also need freedom, though young. Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend, not a manager, with their children is a better way to know them.
小題1:“The door to his room is always shut” suggests that the son ______.

A．is always busy with his studies	B．doesn’t want to be disturbed
C．keeps himself away from his parents	D．begins to dislike his parents

小題2: What troubles Tina and Mark most is that _____.
their daughter isn’t as lovely as before  
they can’t read their daughter’s mind exactly
they don’t know what to say to their daughter
their daughter talks with them only when she needs help
小題3: Which of the following best explains “the wall of silence” in the last paragraph?

A． Teenagers talk a lot with their friends

B． Teenagers do not want to understand their parents.

C． Teenagers do not talk much with their parents

D． Teenagers talk little about their own lives

小題4:What can be learned from the passage?
A.  Parents are unhappy with their growing children.
Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers
C.   Parents should be patient with their silent teenagers.
D.   Parents should try to understand their teenagers.

完形填空 (共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分)
請(qǐng)認(rèn)真閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit（深坑）. All the other frogs  36  the pit. When they saw how  37  the pit was, they told the two frogs that they might be  38 .
The two frogs  39  what the other frogs were saying and  40  to jump up out of the pit with all of their physical strength. The other frogs  41  telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs  42  the comments, seriously considering them, and gave up. He  43  down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as  44  as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs shouted at him to stop the  45  and just die. He jumped even harder and finally  46  it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not  47  us?” The frog explained to them that he was  48 . He thought they were  49  him the whole time.
This story teaches two lessons: ① There is power of life and death in the  50 . An encouraging word to someone who is  51  can lift them up and help them make it through the day. ② A destructive word to someone who is down can be  52  it takes to kill them. Be  53  of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.
The  54  of words is great. It is sometimes hard to understand  55  an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.

小題1:	A．jumped over B．keep peace with C．came down D．gathered around

小題2:	A．big B．deep C．dangerous D．wide

小題3:	A．dead B．confused C．quiet D．safe

小題4:	A．tolerated B．understood C．ignored D．confirmed

小題5:	A．promised B．tried C．managed D．a(chǎn)greed

小題6:	A．kept B．enjoyed C．finished D．stopped

小題7:	A．lived up to B．paid attention to C．got used to D．pushed ahead with

小題8:	A．slowed B．went C．climbed D．fell

小題9:	A．hardly B．difficult C．hard D．difficultly

小題10:

A．pain B．disease C．fear D．competition

小題11:

A．worked B．turned C．left D．made

小題12:

A．follow B．hear C．recognize D．consider

小題13:

A．deaf B．blind C．honest D．clever

小題14:

A．respecting B．comforting C．encouraging D．beating

小題15:

A．society B．communication C．tongue D．misunderstanding

小題16:

A．down B．a(chǎn)ngry C．a(chǎn)way D．up

小題17:

A．who B．that C．which D．what

小題18:

A．proud B．careful C．a(chǎn)fraid D．free

小題19:

A．function B．energy C．power D．skill

小題20:

A．what B．that C．how D．when

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng) 。
Water and its importance to human life were the centre of the world’s attention last week. March 22 was World Water Day and     36    the theme “Water for Life”.
There are more than one billion people in the world who live without     37    drinking water. The United Nations      38    to cut this number in half by 2015.
Solving such a big problem seems like a(n)     39    challenge. But everyone,     40    teenagers, can do something to help. A teenage girl in the US has set an example to the     41  of her age around the world.
Rene Haggerty, 13, was awarded the 2004 Gloria Barron Prize for her work—     42    discarded(廢棄的) batteries（電池）which pollute water.
In 2003, Haggerty went on a field trip to the Great Lakes Science Centre in Ohio. There she saw an exhibit about how     43    in old batteries harm the water of Lake Erie.
Haggerty learnt that     44     the batteries was an easy solution. “I think everybody can do it, because everyone     45    batteries, and it can make a big difference.” With these words, she began to     46    awareness in her area.
She     47     her county government and school board. She got permission to start a recycling programme in schools    48   the public library, hospital, and churches. With help from her family, friends and local waste-management    49   , she gathered containers, arranged transportation, and made a(n)     50    video.
Over the past two years, she collected four tons of batteries and drew the attention of officials, who were in charge of a battery recycling programme but had made     51   progress.
When asked     52    she feels like a hero, Haggerty is quite ____53   . “Not really. Well, maybe for the fish I saved!”
Every year the Gloria Barron Prize     54  young Americans aged 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in     55    the public and the planet. Each year ten winners receive US $ 2,000 each, to help with their education costs or their public service work.

小題1:	A．had B．gave C．wrote D．discussed

小題2:	A．enough B．safe C．much D．polluted

小題3:	A．a(chǎn)sks B．orders C．hopes D．ensures

小題4:	A．good B．strong C．important D．unreal

小題5:	A．especially B．sometimes C．even D．seldom

小題6:	A．boys B．others C．students D．grown-ups

小題7:	A．collecting B．selling C．buying D．using

小題8:	A．things B．chemicals C．water D．a(chǎn)ir

小題9:	A．making B．recycling C．reducing D．handling

小題10:

A．uses B．has C．throws D．needs

小題11:

A．tell B．increase C．spread D．inform

小題12:

A．talked to B．listened to C．heard from D．thought about

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)nd B．beside C．a(chǎn)s well as D．a(chǎn)s good as

小題14:

A．officials B．workers C．clerks D．experts

小題15:

A．industrial B．a(chǎn)gricultural C．scientific D．educational

小題16:

A．much B．no C．some D．little

小題17:

A．if B．how C．when D．why

小題18:

A．proud B．glad C．modest D．worried

小題19:

A．praises B．helps C．supports D．honors

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)warding B．saving C．serving D．favoring

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1．5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后所給題的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A 、B、C 、和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
A philosophy professor loved to teach students about important theories of the subject．Once, while his 21  was about to begin, he just closed the book and  22  stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him． Students were curious but the professor without looking at them 23  a very large and empty jar．And then he started to 24  it with small rocks．25 the jar appeared full, the professor asked his students whether the jar was full
The entire class 26   that jar was indeed full．Next, the professor picked up some  27   and began pouring them into the jar．The moment pouring was 28  , he shook the jar lightly．As a result of that, all the small rocks 29 the open areas between the rocks comfortably． 
Professor again asked the students if the jar is full．Same  30   from the class like before．Professor  31   a bit but silently, and this time he picked up a box of sand．He poured the box into the jar and sand filled the entire 32  spaces．At the same time, professor 33  his question to the class, if the jar was full? Yes again．
Professor now  34 towards the class and said, this jar  35  your life．All the things in the jar I poured mean some important lessons．The rocks are the most important things,  36  is family, your partner, health and your  37 ．Even if everything else in your life goes away but the rocks remains there, your life would still be full  38  the most important things are still present in your life．Pebbles represent other significant things like car, house and job etc．And the sand is the small stuff or everything else．
If your time and 39 is spent on small stuff then there is no 40 for the pebbles or the rocks or in other words, most important things of your life．

小題1:	A．lecture B．talk C．speech D．letter

小題2:	A．though B．besides C．otherwis D．instead e

小題3:	A．pointed to B．picked up C．took out D．sent up

小題4:	A．fill B．fix C．put D．turn

小題5:	A．Soon B．Instantly C．Luckily D．Hopefully

小題6:	A．a(chǎn)rgued B．told C．suggested D．a(chǎn)greed

小題7:	A．rocks B．stones C．sand D．water

小題8:	A．understandable B．complete C．reliable D．a(chǎn)djustable

小題9:A rolled into      B．．fell out     C．mixed with        D．turned up

小題10:

A．response B．comment C．order D．content

小題11:

A．spoke B．cried C．scolded D．smiled

小題12:

A．left B．a(chǎn)vailable C．getting D．remaining

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)sked B．a(chǎn)nswered C．repeated D．discussed

小題14:

A．turned B．looked C．walked D．moved

小題15:

A．means B．represents C．competes D．matches

小題16:

A．which B．that C．what D．it

小題17:

A．wealth B．business C．children D．friends

小題18:

A．because B．if C．once D．while

小題19:

A．energy B．money C．power D．strength

小題20:

A．hope B．need C．room D．doubt

From the beginning rivers have played an important in the life of man．Man of the earliest times used the rivers as a means of travel．Today rivers still serve as a great waterway for the transport and people．
In ancient times, man settled near rivers or on river banks and built up large empires．
Water is nature’s most valuable gift to man．Man needs water to irrigate his crops, to cook and to wash．In nations all over the world, rivers mean life and wealth．They feed and clothe the nations around them．
Water is also a source of energy and power．Man build huge dams across the rivers to control the water for irrigation and get the energy needed to drive generators．The electrical power is then directed to homes, cities, factories and television stations．
Man uses water each day．In a small way rivers help to keep man in good health and provide for his amusements．Various forms of water sports keep man strong and healthy．
小題1:Rivers have been important to man _______．

A．since they came into being	B．since the last century
C．since a few hundred years ago．	D．since the beginning of BC

小題2:Man in old times traveled from one continent to another ______．

A．by air

B．by sea

C．by train

D．by bus

小題3:Generators are machines that are used ______．

A．to direct electrical power	B．to control the water
C．to produce electricit	D．to build dams y

小題4:Which of the following statements is true?

A．People get energy by building bridges across rivers．

B．In ancient times large empires grew up near dams．

C．People can be provided with amusements in small rivers．

D．Large rivers are still useful for transportation in modern times．

If you think English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the earlier people learn a second language, the greater the effect is.
A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London(UCL), took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals(通兩種語言的人)”, who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference was.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills.
“Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,” he said, “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading, writing and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the earlier they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
小題1: What does the underlined part “grey matter” (in Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Grey hair.	B．Material of the brain.
C．Intelligence.	D．Difficult situations.

小題2: The experience of learning a second language can ________.

A．change one’s brain completely	B．improve one’s maths skills
C．make one smarter than others	D．increase the ability to learn

小題3:We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．the researchers from UCL did another study in Italy

B．a(chǎn) similar study was done on native Italian speakers who learn English as a second language

C．the research done on the Italians showed a totally different result

D．it will be easier for one to travel around the world by learning a second language

小題4:What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Learning a second language can help improve your brain power.

B．You should learn a second language that is not your native language.

C．If you want to learn a second language, you should do it at a certain age.

D．The research done by the researchers from UCL is very successful.