Question

   Here's a good deed you can do without parting with a single thing.Synthetic(合成的) voices for people who have lost the ability to speak only come in generic( —般的) types — think of Stephen Hawking's voice — but one amazing project wants to build custom voices for each person. To do that they need your help: specifically,a recording of your voice.

   VocallD is the brainchild of two speech scientists,who are turning their research into a much larger project. Voice is very personal and,like a prosthetic(假体） leg or arm,it makes sense it should be customized to each person.

   Here's how it works — and don't worry,this does not mean someone will be walking around with the same voice as you out there:

   After recording a couple of hours of audio in,say,a quiet room with an iPhone,you send it to Vocall   D. where a program called ModelTalker cuts it up into the basic units of speech that can be recombined as new words and sentences. In that same step,characteristics of the patient's voice — based on what limited sounds they can make 一 are mixed with the donor's to create a whole new one.

   VocallD is still in its beginning stages,and they're looking for help from everyone including voice donors,financial support,and programmers. A priority(优先的事物) is making voice donation even easier,cutting down recording time,especially for kids. But as it stands already,your voice is just about the easiest thing to donate.

6. Stephen Hawking's voice.

   A. has no personal characteristics

   B. was donated by a volunteer

   C. was created by VocallD

   D. sounded amazing

7. We can infer that VocallD aims to .

   A. do research on voices

   B. teach some people to speak

   C. produce prosthetic legs or arms

   D. help some people have their “own” voice

8. To create a new voice,which of the following is / are needed?

   A. Sounds made by the patient.

   B. A few days of audio recording.

   C. The voice of at least two donors.

   D. ModelTalker that can combine words.

9. What is the main purpose of the text?

   A. To introduce some jobs in Vocall   D.

   B. To encourage readers to donate their voice.

   C. To advertise a program called ModelTalker.

   D. To collect money for people who cannot speak.

Answer 1

6. A 7. D 8. A 9. B

(现代技术)

本文是说明文。文章介绍了如何给不会说话的人捐献声音。

6. A. 推理判％题。由第一段中的 Synthetic voices for people ... custom voices for each person 可 知，史蒂芬•霍金那样的合成语音 是一般的类型，而一个新的项目 想要为不能讲话的人制作个性化 的声音。据此可推断，史蒂芬•霍 金的合成语音没有个性特征。

7. D. 细节理解题。由第一段中的 one amazing project wants to build custom voices for each person及第二段中的Voice is very personal and ... it makes sense it should be customized,to each person 可知，VocallD 旨在帮 助人ft拥有有个性特征的声音。

8. A. 细节理解题。由第四段中的 characteristics of the patient's voice — based on what limited sounds they can make ——are mixed可知，要在捐献的声音的基 础上制作一个新的声音，需要患 者自己发出的声音。

9. B. —作目的题。由文章开头的 Here,s a good deed you can do 及 文章末的 your voice is just about the easiest thing to donate 可推断，文章主要是鼓励读者为不能讲话 的人捐献自己的声音。