Brain-computer interface (界面) (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands
to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Milan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic school in
Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated (展示)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 nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles
to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles," Tavella says. "Our system allows disabled people to communicate
with external world and also to control devices."
The researchers 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 interprets the signals and commands the
motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help
the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Milan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets
brain signals and turns them into simple commands. "The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers
to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. 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 benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over
long periods of time.
A. help to update computer systems
B. link the human brain with computers
C. help the disabled to recover
D. control a person"s thoughts
B. By talking to the machine.
C. By moving his hand.
D. By using his mind.
B. computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C. scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D. cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
B. prove the technology useful to them
C. make them live longer
D. learn about their physical condition
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 Injuries
researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather
than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因构成) as human beings. What drove our
ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The
wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring
space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas
can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we
have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical
possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may
have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited
from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather
forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may
hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds
dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach
out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow
us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have
adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
B. To compare different ideas.
C. To introduce points for discussion.
D. To describe the conditions on Earth.
B. Humans have the tendency to fight.
C. Humans may find new sources of food.
D. Humans don"t like to stay in the same place.
A. survival chances
B. unexpected benefits
C. potential resources
D. physical possessions
B. Resources on the earth..
C. Our genetic makeup.
D. By-products in space exploration.
B. Space exploration provided the best value for money.
C. Space exploration can benefit science and technology.
D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.
There is an English saying:“1._________.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously.
Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body.
2. ________
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films
while doctors checked their hearts, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter
has similar effects to physical exercise. 3.__________. If laughter exercises the body, it must be
beneficial(有益的).
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body.
In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs.
The group that tolerated(忍耐) the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny
program.4._________.
5.__________. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making
them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.
B. As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics in
which they help to improve their patients’ condition by encouraging them to laugh.
C. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals
in the brain which diminish (减少) both stress and pain.
D. It increases blood pressure, the heart beating and breathing; it also works several groups of
muscles in the face, the stomach and even the feet.
E. Although laughter helps cure the disease, doctors still can not put this theory into clinic practice.
F. Laughter is the best medicine.
G. They have found that laughter really can improve people’s health
luck in the commercial world, there is very little traffic in the opposite direction. Pay has always been the
biggest deterrent, as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to
a university job. For some industrial scientists, however, the attractions of academia (学术界) outweigh
any financial considerations.
Helen Lee took a 70% cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a
medical department at the University of Cambridge. Her main reason for returning to academia
mid-career was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions. Some areas of
inquiry have few prospects of a commercial return, and Lee"s is one of them.
The impact of a salary cut is probably less severe for a scientist in the early stages of a career. Guy
Grant, now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of
Cambridge, spent two years working for a pharmaceutical (制药的) company before returning to
university as a post-doctoral researcher. He took a 30% salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater
intellectual (知识的) opportunities.
Higher up the ladder, where a pay cut is usually more significant, the demand for scientists with a
wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition (转换) to academia more
attractive, according to Lee. Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not, such as
how to build a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and negotiate contracts. They are also well placed
to bring something extra to the teaching side of an academic role that will help students get a job when
they graduate, says Lee, perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development. "Only
a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic career. So someone leaving university
who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market
than someone who has spent all their time on a narrow research project."
B. there is little exchange between industry and academia
C. few industrial scientists would quit to work in a university
D. few university professors are willing to do industrial research
B. helps to move the traffic
C. attracts people"s attention
D. brings someone a financial burden
B. Her research interests.
C. Her preference for the lifestyle on campus.
D. Prospects of academic accomplishments.
B. raise his status in the academic world
C. enrich his experience in medical research
D. exploit better intellectual opportunities
B. Develop its students" potential in research.
C. Help it to obtain financial support from industry.
D. Gear its research towards practical applications.
Fukushima (Japan) last year the issue is back in the headlines. And the world is divided- some countries
are planning more nuclear plants, while others have promised to shut theirs down.
After Fukushima, Germany decided to switch off all its nuclear plants by 2022. Switzerland and Italy
are also phasing out nuclear power. But France and the United States remain staunch supporters of
atomic energy. In fact, almost 80% of France"s electricity comes from nuclear power, the highest
percentage in the world. And in the US, the Obama administration said it "continues to support the
expansion of nuclear power, despite the crisis in Japan."
Nuclear supporters claim nuclear power can help the environment. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear power
doesn"t create greenhouse gases. So, pro-nuclear countries argue that nuclear power allows them to
generate energy without contributing to climate change. Britain"s chief scientific adviser (John Beddington)
supports this view. He recently said that the world doesn"t have the luxury of ignoring nuclear energy.
Nuclear power is also relatively cheap. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro and wind power
may be clean, but they"re expensive; and right now, they require a lot of investment. This higher cost of
using "green energy" is usually passed onto the consumer. So, while many people may prefer their energy
to come from a renewable source, not so many are prepared to pay higher energy bills. This is of
particular concern while the world economy is in such bad shape.
The main argument against nuclear energy is that it isn"t safe. For a start, nuclear waste is very difficult
to dispose of, and remains toxic to humans for thousands of years. And even before Fukushima, there
were several high-profile nuclear disasters. The most famous is probably the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, in
the Ukraine. The radiation from the meltdown spread all over Europe, affecting thousands.
The nuclear energy issue is very complex. And it doesn"t look like it"ll be resolved anytime soon. As a
Japanese commentator recently said, "it"s been a bad year for the "nuclear village", but I don"t think they"re down and out yet." The battle continues.
B. Nuclear energy can help prevent the climate damage.
C. Nuclear energy is more environmental-friendly than other green energy sources.
D. Nuclear energy can save the consumers some money, compared to other renewable energies.
higher bill.
B. The cost of using renewable sources
C. The fact that the nuclear power is cheaper.
D. The investment of renewable energy sources
B. explain that nuclear waste may remain harmful to humans for thousands of years.
C. persuade the world not to use nuclear energy.
D. support the idea that nuclear energy is not safe.
B. the nuclear energy issue will be soon settled.
C. a battle will break out in the future.
D. Japan is considering to build a nuclear village in the future.
B. To introduce some serious nuclear disasters.
C. To show the argument between nuclear supporters and protesters.
D. To give some advice on how to use nuclear energy safely.
students committed suicide by jumping off dorm buildings.
Officials from the university are reluctant (不情愿的) to give interviews.
"We had a hard time calming down students who were shocked at the suicides," said Zhang Jingyuan,
head of HUST"s center for research and guidance for students" development.
"Media coverage (报导) may arouse some students" negative emotions again. Suicide can be
contagious (传染性的)," Zhang said.
The university reacted promptly to the first suicide on October 23.
Advisors and class leaders conducted dorm-to-dorm checks to find students suffering depression.
Then psychologists offered one-on-one counseling to them.
Notice boards publicizing tips for identifying peers" mental problems and offering help were set up in
front of dorm buildings. Leaflets (传单) carrying similar information were handed out to each dorm.
However, the second suicide came seven days later.
Both students were described as men of few words. Their schoolmates didn"t see anything to indicate
suicide.
Zhang revealed that the two students had been bothered by mental disorders. But the school didn"t
know this until the students" close friends outside school and their parents unveiled (揭露) the truth after
the suicides.
According to Zhang, there are only three full-time counselors (心理辅导专家) working in the
university"s counseling center for its 60,000 students. He complained: "It"s unrealistic to rely only on
counselors to detect students" mental problems."
Some universities in the US may be able to offer solutions to Zhang"s worries. They have established
programs to train students to be the bridge between troubled friends and counselors.
At Worcester Polytechnic Institute, at Worcester, Massachusetts, US, young people in the Student
Support Network role play to learn how to detect SOS signals from their schoolmates.
They also practice how to gently persuade emotionally troubled students to go for professional help.
To develop such empathy (同理心), many universities in China have organized campus events to
popularize knowledge about mental health. But these are not that attractive to students.
Ke Juanjuan, 24, is pursuing a master"s degree in English translation at HUST. Ke has found that few
of her peers will pay attention to activities about mental health when they are not troubled by it.
Rather than bombard students with the words "mental health", Ke suggested the school organize
lectures and workshops concerning study, job-hunting and relationships. She explained: "Students care
about these topics. They tend to have problems in these areas and may thus get stuck in depression.
"By helping students better deal with these problems, the school can effectively prevent self-inflicted
injury and suicide among students."
Effective prevention comes from long-term education for life instead of temporary intervention(干预)
to meet an emergency, said Hu Yi"an. Hu delivers a course of lectures on life and death at Guangzhou
University. He worries that universities have paid little attention to education for life.
"Education for life helps students respect and love life so they won"t resort(诉诸) to ending their lives
when they have difficulties," said Hu.
According to Hu, the principles can be incorporated (结合) into everyday teaching.
B. Campus
C. Advertisement
D. Culture
reluctant to give interviews?
B. They had a hard time calming down students who were shocked at the suicides.
C. Media coverage may arouse some students" negative emotions again.
D. Two suicides within a week is really a nightmare for the university.
B. show their students are good at persuading emotionally troubled peers to go for professional help.
C. give an example of the universities in the US that have established programs to train students to be the
bridge between troubled friends and counselors.
D. show that Zhang"s complaint is wrong.
B. Effective prevention comes from temporary intervention to meet an emergency.
C. According to Hu Yi"an, education for life helps students respect and love life so they won"t commit
suicide when they have difficulties.
D. According to Hu, education for life can be incorporated into everyday teaching.
B. The ways of education for life.
C. The importance of education for life.
D. How to incorporate education for life into everyday teaching.
- 1计算:
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