Many teachers believe that hands-on experiences are the best way to learn. A group of students in the United Sates is putting that belief to the test.

The students are from the Stevens Institute of Technology. They successfully designed and built a robot for discovering mines at the bottom of the sea. The underwater robot is called Perseus II. It costs about $15,000 to build. The students made the robot to answer a challenge from the U.S. Department of Defense(国防部).

The students use a video game controller to direct its movements. Devices known as

thrusters enable the robot to go up, down and toward its target in the water. Video cameras on the robot send images back to a computer through a 13-meter-long cable(电缆). Perseus II also has a set of lasers(激光), they are used to measure the size of an object.

The robot is the creation of five college students. They worked for over six months to design and build Perseus II.

"Their goal was to go down and find the mine and not only just find it but provide information to an expert on the surface so he or she could make a decision whether it was something dangerous or not before they removed it," Michael DeLorne said.

Perseus II was successfully tested in Florida with similar robots built at other engineering schools. In a separate development, new students at the Stevens Institute of Technology have already started on the next project. It is a flying vehicle they are calling Perseus III.

1.Why did the five college students make the robot?

A. To go up, down and toward its target underwater.

B. To provide information to an expert on the surface.

C. To answer a challenge from the Department of Defense.

D. To prove hands-on experiences is the best way to learn.

2.Which of the following is NOT part of Perseus II?

A. a set of lasers B. a computer

C. video cameras D. a video game controller

3..What does the word “mine” in Paragraph 5 most probably mean ?

A. 宝藏 B. 海鱼 C. 矿井 D. 水雷

4.What can we infer(推断) about Perseus III according to the passage?

A. Perseus III may be used in the sky.

B. Perseus III has been successfully tested in Florida.

C. Perseus III will cost more money and time.

D. Perseus III and Perseus II are made by the same students.

Gareth Ellis, 13, is the youngest son of Alan, an engineer, and Kath, a teacher. His older brothers work in banking and computers, but Gareth's dream was always to become a clown(小丑).Three years ago, Alan, Kath and Gareth joined the circus(马戏团). People laugh when we tell them,' saysKath. 'But it's true. Gareth has wanted to be a clown since we took him to the circus when he was three.'

When Alan lost his job, he and Kath decided to see if they could find full-time circus jobs. They both got jobs with a famous circus and Gareth began training to become a clown. He calls himself Bippo. They travel with the circus during the summer and return home for the winter. Gareth's brothers are old enough to look after the house while they are away.

'I can't say it was easy,' says Kath. 'There was a lot to think about and organize. We only had a car and a very small caravan(大篷车)to sleep in, and we were leaving behind our lovely house. The only thing Gareth missed was his long, hot baths.'

'People ask about my education,' says Gareth, 'but from the beginning, wherever we go, someone has always come to teach me. I follow the same books as everyone back at school and I've got a computer. I've never fallen behind my classmates.'

And the future? 'It was a difficult decision,' says Kath, 'but there was no other way to teach Gareth about being a clown. I'm happy to say it's working, and we're enjoying it.' And Gareth? 'I'm going to be the main clown in a circus one day', he says, 'perhaps Bippo's circus.'

1.In the article, the writer is trying to .

A. talk about the best way to educate a child B. give details about how to join the circus

C. describe how one family changed their lives D. advise what to do when you lose the job

2.Alan and Kath joined the circus because .

A. they wanted to spend time travelling in the summer

B. they needed money in order to buy a bigger car

C. their older sons needed their house for themselves

D. their youngest son wanted to train as a performer

3.When they first join the circus, Kath .

A. found things difficult B. did not have enough to do

C. wanted to go back home D. was not able to sleep properly

4.Which postcard did Gareth write just after he joined the circus?

A. B.

C. D.

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