Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to connect the brain with computers. Braincomputer interface(BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two scientists, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytehnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, show a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person’s thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of body cells(细胞). These send signals through the spinal cord(脊髓) to the body part to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries(脊柱受伤) or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the body part.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outer world and also to control machines.”
The scientists designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp(头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer finds meanings of the signals and commands the wheelchair with an engine. The wheelchair also has two cameras that tell objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan , the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that finds meanings of brain signals and turns them into simple commands.” The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two kinds: communication, and controlling objects. One example is this wheelchair.”
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can get advantages from. And the other is sure that they can use the technology for long.
1. BCI is a technology that can________.
A. help to make computer systems more modern
B. connect the human brain with computers
C. help the disabled to be healthier
D. control a person’s thoughts
2. Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A. scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B. computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C. scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D. cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
3. The team will test with real patients to_________.
A. make money from them
B. prove the technology useful to them
C. make them live longer
D. learn about their physical condition
4. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Switzerland, the BCI research Center
B. New Findings About How the Human Brain Works
C. BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
D. Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Sickness
1B 2C 3B 4C
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A wedding(婚礼) Invitation
You’re invited to the wedding of Carrie and Henry at St John’s Church(教堂), on Saturday January 24th at 3:30 p.m. and dinner at the Blue Sky Restaurant, at 6:00p.m.
R.S.V.P: December 29th
Dear Joe, I’m so excited and I have to enjoy the news with you. Today is December 23rd, I got a very special invitation from Carrie before Christmas Day(圣诞节). Do you remember the party for the Sydney group at Henry’s house? And do you remember my best friend, Carrie? Well, guess what? Carrie and Henry are getting married? It’s so romantic! Love is here! Carrie and Henry are having a big wedding at St. John’s Church. Monica and James are going to their wedding. Oh, I can’t wait to enjoy it. I got the invitation and it is for two people. Can you come to the wedding with me? Carrie and Henry are going to Suzhou for their honey moon(蜜月). I’m buying them a camera for their wedding. But before the wedding, I’d like to get my hair cool and buy a pink dress first. Call me at 9:00 a.m., on Friday, January 23rd, OK? Maria |
36. Maria got this wedding invitation from .
A. Carrie. B. Joe. C. Monica. D. James
37. Monica and James are taking part in the wedding on .
A. Friday morning. B. Friday afternoon. C. Saturday morning. D. Saturday afternoon.
38. What does “getting married” mean in Chinese?
A. 参加聚会 B. 过圣诞节 C. 做礼拜 D. 结婚
39. The friends to the wedding party are going to have dinner .
A. in Suzhou. B. at Henry’s house C. at St John’s Church D. at the Blue Sky Restaurant
40. From the invitation card, we know that .
A. Monica is having fun in Suzhou. B. they are having the wedding in January.
C. Monica is going to buy a camera for Joe D. the wedding dinner starts at 7:00 p.m.
Do you have pen pals? I have three pen pals from three different countries. They are Tom, Ella, and Molly.
Tom comes from Australia. His favorite subject is P.E., because he likes playing soccer best and he can play it in P.E. classes. He has a sister and a brother.
Ella is an American girl. Of all her subjects, she likes Chinese best. She often writes to me in Chinese. Her favorite sport is volleyball.
Molly lives in Tokyo. She likes learning Chinese, too. But her favorite subject is math. When she has time, she likes playing tennis best. She is a very clever girl.
I love them very much.
根据短文内容,将表格补充完整。
Name | From | Living place | Favorite subject | Favorite sport |
Tom | Australia | / | 1. ______ | soccer |
Ella | 2. _____ | / | Chinese | 3. _____ |
Molly | / | 4. ____ | 5. _____ | tennis |