Inventors are always looking for ways to make our lives easier, greener and a whole lot more fun. Take a look at the following breakthroughs in science and technology. What in the world will inventors dream up next?

Superhero Suit

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superhero? Dream no more. There’s a real Iron Man suit, XOS 2, which instantly transforms the person wearing it. The suit provides the power to lift 200 pounds with ease and break slabs（厚片）of wood with a single karate chop. It was designed to help the military with heavy lifting. One person in the suit could do the work of three soldiers.

Up, Up and Away!

It took him 30 years to develop it, and now Glen Martin’s invention is ready to take off. The Martin Jetpack allows its operator to fly 8,000 feet into the air. Unfortunately, you can’t soar through the skies too long. The jetpack holds only 30 minutes’ worth of fuel. The aircraft will sell for $100,000.

Hardworking Robot

The EMIEW2 robot is the perfect office helper. Need a document delivered? No problem! It can also guide visitors to their destinations. The three-foot-tall robot can identify different human voices and respond to commands. One day, it may serve as a receptionist or a security guard.

Green Machine

Say goodbye to gasoline! The AirPod car runs on air power. That means this car won’t pollute the environment. A high-pressure air tank can fill the car in minutes. The three-wheeler can travel about 130 miles between fill-ups.

Beef Power

All aboard the beef train! Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer runs partly on fuel that is made from cow fat. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 10%. The train travels between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas.

Robo-Guard

EMILY is a robotic, four-foot-long buoy (救生圈). She can swim through riptides (激流) at up to 24 miles per hour. Her inventor, Tony Mulligan, says that’s 15 times as fast as human lifeguards! EMILY is powered by a tiny electric pump and operated by remote control.

1.What is the disadvantage of Glen Martin’s invention?

A．It uses large amounts of fuel.               B．It only flies at low altitudes.

C．It needs a big landing field.                D．It has a small gas tank.

2.Which of the following inventions may be popular with modern companies?

A．The EMIEW2 robot.                      B．EMILY.

C．XOS 2.                                D．The Martin Jetpack.

3.How many environment-friendly inventions are mentioned in the passage?

A．One.             B．Two.              C．Three.            D．Four.

4.From the passage we learn that __________.

A．the Superhero Suit is designed for fun

B．the EMIEW2 robot can tell different human voices

C．Robo-Guard may serve as a security guard

D．the AirPod car travels far with a little gas

— What do you think of the price of these computers?

— They are at least equal in price to, if not cheaper than, ____at the other companies.

—What do you think of the price of these computers?

—They are at least equal in price to, if not cheaper than, ________ in other companies.

A. it                 B. ones               C. that                D. the ones

Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation^①. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs’ copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits^② have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.

“Baidu’s defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,” said an official.

Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn’t think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others’ work without paying.

However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. “If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD,” she said. “So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing^③ file-sharers.”

Notes:

relaxation  n. 娱乐

lawsuit  n. 诉讼

pursue  vt. 追赶，追击

Choose the best answers according to the above:

Which of the following best describes the passage?

A. Music on the Internet is of better quality. B. Downloading material can be illegal.

C. It’s good to get free music on the Internet.      D. Baidu is a popular web company.

The four web companies were put to court because _________.

A. they got copyrighted songs without paying           

B. they downloaded copyrighted music for people

C. they make copyrighted files for free downloads

D. they offer free music on line

How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuit?

A. A bit guilty.        B. A little sad.      C. Extremely angry.   D. Awfully sorry.

What’s the advantage of tile sharing for recording companies?

A. Getting more money from web companies.    

B. Enabling people to download favorite songs.

C. Helping to improve the music.               

D. Making pop singers more popular.

It can be inferred from the text that _________.

A. Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws.

B. Teenagers haven’t got money to buy CDs.

C. Teenagers are probably still downloading free music.

D. Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music.

Protecting Copyright
Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation （娱乐）. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs’ copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits（诉讼） have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.
“Baidu’s defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Downloaders may face lawsuits or fines,” said an official.
Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn’t think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others’ work without paying.
However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. “If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD,” she said. “So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing （追赶）file-sharers.”
1. Which of the following best describes the passage?
A. Music on the Internet is of better quality.    
B. Downloading material can be illegal.
C. It’s good to get free music on the Internet.        
D. Baidu is a popular web company.
2. The four web companies were put to court because _________.
A. they got copyrighted songs without paying           
B. they downloaded copyrighted music for people
C. they make copyrighted files for free downloads
D. they offer free music on line
3. How do some of the teenagers feel while downloading free music after the lawsuit?
A. A bit guilty.        B. A little sad.      C. Extremely angry.   D. Awfully sorry.
4. What’s the advantage of file sharing for recording companies?
A. Getting more money from web companies.    
B. Enabling people to download favorite songs.
C. Helping to improve the music.               
D. Making pop singers more popular.
5. It can be inferred from the text that _________.
A. Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws.
B. Teenagers haven’t got money to buy CDs.
C. Teenagers are probably still downloading free music.
D. Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music.