WASHINGTON – It’s a great achievement that inspires notions 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 novel ability: it can heal its own damage.

The new robot, which looks like a splay – legged, 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 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 formation 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 pellicle spot is the ocean floor. That dark and dangerous undersea terrain might be a good choice for a robot 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.

46．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

47．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

48．The underlined word “resilient” in the last paragraph means the robot is ___________.

       A．creative    B．newly made     C．able to recover    D．informative

49．Which of the following is TURE 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.

50．What might be the best title of the passage?

       A．How does the Starfish Robot work

       B．Do – It – Yourself Robot Repair

       C．Robots Designed to Work On Other Planets

       D．New Robot Helping Us In Many Ways

The new research center will be set up      was a wasteland 20 year ago.

       A．in what     B．where       C．in which   D．there

Dear Daughter:

       As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind．

       First, I want to tell you how proud we are．Getting into Columbia is a real testament of what a great well-rounded student you are．You should be as proud of yourself as we are．

       Your college years will be the most important years in your life．It is in college that you will discover what learning is about．This will be the period where you go from teacher-taught to master-inspired, after which you must become self-leamer．So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn isn't critical for your life, the learning skills you acquire will be something you cherish forever．

       Follow your passion in college．Take courses you think you will enjoy．Don't be trapped by what others think or say, but make up your own mind．

       Most importantly, make friends and be happy．College friends are often the best in life．Pick a few friends and become really close to them—pick the ones who are genuine and sincere to you．Don't worry about their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities．

       Start planning early —what would you like to do? Where would you like to live? What would you like to leam? I think your plan of studying fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses．

       Whether it is summer-planning, or coursework planning, or picking a major, or managing your time, you should take control of your life．I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver's seat - this is your life, and you need to be in control．Being in control feels great．Try it, and you'll love it!

       College is the four years where you have:

●he greatest amount of free time

●the first chance to be independent

●the most flexibility to change

●the lowest risk for making mistakes

       So please value your college years ?make full use of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny, be bold to experiment, leam and grow through your successes and challenges．

       May Columbia become the happiest four years in your life, and may you blossom into just what you dream to be．

Love,

Dad （& Mom）

49．What does the author think college life holds in store for his daughter?

       A．Opportunities and uncertainty．

       B．Happy learning and pure enjoyment

       C．Successes and challenges．

       D．Independent learning and experimentation with life．

50．What does the underlined expression "be in the driver's seat" refer to?

       A．Control what happens in a certain situation．      

       B．Learn how to drive a car．

       C．Stand in a driver's situation．                 

       D．Learn to adjust yourself to coursework

51．Which of these pieces of advice is given in the article?

       a．think and live independently               b．learn how to learn

       c．choose friends with similar personalities    d．be genuine and sincere

       e．try new things

       A．abc         B．bce         C．cde        D．able

52．From the text we can conclude the father      ．

       A．is worried about others' gossiping about his daughter

       B．is strict with his daughter's making friends with others

       C．is upset about his daughter's life planning

       D．is optimistic about his daughter's future．

Without the contributions of Qian Xuesen, the father of Chinese missile, the achievements in space technology       unthinkable in China．

       A．would be                B．would have been

       C．might be                    D．should have been

---Don’t forget to take your cell phone.

   ---But it’s just been announced that no students__________bring cell phones to school.

       A．shall  B．may  C．can    D．will

第二部分  阅读理解（第一节20题，第二节5题；每小题2分，满分50分）

 第一节：阅读下列短文，从题中所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并将答案转涂到答题纸上。

Riding School

     You can start horse??riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30 p．m.on Saturdays)．There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.

     Opening Hours：Monday through Friday：9:00 a.m. --.??8:30 p.m.

     Phone：(412)396??6754　Fax：(412)396??6752

Sailing Club

     Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two??-hour lessons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.--.??8 p.m.)．

     Opening Hours：Tuesdays：6:00 p.m.??--8:00 p.m.

     Phone：(412)396??6644　Fax：(412)396??6644

Diving Centre

     Our experienced instructors offer one??-month courses in deep?? sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week，in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need a swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples.

     Opening Hours：Monday and Friday：6:30 p.m.--??8:30 p.m..

     Phone：(412)396??6312　Fax：(412)396??6706

Medical Center

     The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation.Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.

     Opening Hours：24 hours from Monday to Sunday

     Phone：(412)396??6649　Fax：(412)396??6648

Watersports Club

     We use a two??-kilometre length of river for speedboat racing，and water??skiing.A beginners' course consists of ten 20-??minute lessons.You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently，but must be able to swim.The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. with lessons all through the day.

     Opening Hours：Monday through Friday：9:00 a.m.??--4:00 p.m.

     Phone：(412)396??6899　Fax：(412)396??6890

41. If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous，you should join ______.

A.Watersports Club             B.Diving Centre  

C.Sailing Club                 D.Riding School

42. If you are planning to explore the ocean depths，you should attend your lessons at______.

A.24 hours from Monday to Sunday

B.Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m.??--10:00 p.m.

C.Tuesdays：6:00 p.m.??--8:00 p.m.

D.Monday and Friday：6:30 p.m.--??8:30 p.m.

43. You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end，you can go to ______.

A.Watersports Club                      B.Diving center  

C.Sailing Club                        D.Riding School

44. Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?

A.Good equipment.                B.Well trained staff members.

C.Various less expensive medicines.   D.Nursery for newly??born babies.

To help myself get to sleep, I have tried several ways but it seems that _______works.

A.nothing          B.none          C.neither          D.all

 While these were good students，_______ had a score above 60．

A．someone         B．none        C．everyone     D．no one

 Mr Smith, there’s a man at the front door who says he has news _________ vital importance.

A. of                   B. with                         C. in                         D. from 

六．单词（11）

1.           ___ 由于…而呆住           2.           __ 和…相关,和…有联系

3.           ___ 以…为食,吃       4.      _有意义;有道理,讲得通

5.           ___充分利用          6.           ___ 忍不住(做某事)

7. There are 30 persons injured in the road accident, the driver ___________(包括).

8. The ________(侵略) of the Japanese enemies brought great harm to our country.

9. At the border you will be asked your ____(目的地) and how long you plan to stay.

10. We passed through several__________(被离弃的) villages where local people had left already.

11. They sat at the back of the room, talking in __________（低语）.