The brain of an insect isn’t very big. But insects are somehow still able to make lots of important decisions. Bees, ants and roaches(蟑螂) build hives with thousands of workers doing specialized work. The jobs are done without a head or even a plan. How do insects manage this?

To solve the mystery, scientists in Belgium spent months building robotic roaches and then putting them among real roaches. The final goal of the research is to find out how the simple behavior of individuals gives rise to a collective(集体的) decision. The roach is a good starting point for trying to answer the big question because its social system is simple enough for scientists to study.

The first step was to build robots that real roaches would accept as their own. Although the robotic roaches don’t look much like the real thing, they have similarities with them in three key ways: they naturally head toward dark areas, they are influenced by the behavior of other roaches, and even more importantly, they smell like roaches.

The next step was getting the robotic and real roaches to work together on common tasks. In experiments, the robots would collectively head towards a dark place, copying the behavior of natural roaches. That got the researchers wondering: if you program the robotic roaches to go toward the lighted place, will the real roaches follow, going against their natural instincts.(本能) ?

They will – it turned out. Many of the real roaches followed the robots to a lighter shelter. But influence turned out to be a two- way street. On occasion, the real roaches were able to override the programming of the robot roaches and get them to turn into dark hiding places. Being social creatures, both the robotic and natural roaches were paying attention to and following the example set by others.

In theory, it would be possible to create a robot that could influence collective decision-making in humans. To do this, researchers would have to invent a robot that people would accept. Fortunately, the technology isn’t there yet.

69. Why do scientists choose the roaches to study?

 A. Their social system is simple               

B. They are social creatures.

C. They are able to build their hives quite well.   

D. It is easy to create robotic ones.

70. The robotic roaches are accepted by real ones because of all the following EXCEPT that ______ .

A. they smell like real ones          B. they look exactly like real ones

C. what they do are somewhat influenced by other roaches

D. they naturally head toward dark areas

71. What’s the author’s attitude to creating a robot that would influence collective decision-making in humans?

 A. Uninterested           B. Positive       

C. Negative              D. Doubtful

72. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage ?

A. Scientists’ Research                   B. Robotic Roaches

C. Amazing Insects                      D. Insects’ Social System

The brain of an insect isn’t very big. But insects are somehow still able to make lots of important decisions. Bees, ants and roaches(蟑螂) build hives with thousands of workers doing specialized work. The jobs are done without a head or even a plan. How do insects manage this?
To solve the mystery, scientists in Belgium spent months building robotic roaches and then putting them among real roaches. The final goal of the research is to find out how the simple behavior of individuals gives rise to a collective(集体的) decision. The roach is a good starting point for trying to answer the big question because its social system is simple enough for scientists to study.
The first step was to build robots that real roaches would accept as their own. Although the robotic roaches don’t look much like the real thing, they have similarities with them in three key ways: they naturally head toward dark areas, they are influenced by the behavior of other roaches, and even more importantly, they smell like roaches.
The next step was getting the robotic and real roaches to work together on common tasks. In experiments, the robots would collectively head towards a dark place, copying the behavior of natural roaches. That got the researchers wondering: if you program the robotic roaches to go toward the lighted place, will the real roaches follow, going against their natural instincts.(本能) ?
They will – it turned out. Many of the real roaches followed the robots to a lighter shelter. But influence turned out to be a two- way street. On occasion, the real roaches were able to override the programming of the robot roaches and get them to turn into dark hiding places. Being social creatures, both the robotic and natural roaches were paying attention to and following the example set by others.
In theory, it would be possible to create a robot that could influence collective decision-making in humans. To do this, researchers would have to invent a robot that people would accept. Fortunately, the technology isn’t there yet.

1. 1.

   Why do scientists choose the roaches to study?

   1. A.
      Their social system is simple               
   2. B.
      They are social creatures.
   3. C.
      They are able to build their hives quite well.   
   4. D.
      It is easy to create robotic ones.
2. 2.

   The robotic roaches are accepted by real ones because of all the following EXCEPT that ______ .

   1. A.
      they smell like real ones         
   2. B.
      they look exactly like real ones
   3. C.
      what they do are somewhat influenced by other roaches
   4. D.
      they naturally head toward dark areas
3. 3.

   What’s the author’s attitude to creating a robot that would influence collective decision-making in humans?

   1. A.
      Uninterested          
   2. B.
      Positive       
   3. C.
      Negative             
   4. D.
      Doubtful
4. 4.

   Which of the following might be the best title of the passage ?

   1. A.
      Scientists’ Research                  
   2. B.
      Robotic Roaches
   3. C.
      Amazing Insects                     
   4. D.
      Insects’ Social System

The brain of an insect isn’t very big. But insects are somehow still able to make lots of important decisions. Bees, ants and roaches(蟑螂) build hives(巢穴)with thousands of workers doing specialized work. The jobs are done without a head or even a plan. How do insects manage this?

To solve the mystery, scientists in Belgium spent months building robotic roaches and then putting them among real roaches. The final goal of the research is to find out how the simple behavior of individuals gives rise to a collective decision. The roach is a good starting point for trying to answer the big question because its social system is simple enough for scientists to study.

The first step was to build robots that real roaches would accept as their own. Although the robotic roaches don’t look much like the real thing, they have similarities with them in three key ways: they naturally head toward dark areas, they are influenced by the behavior of other roaches, and even more importantly, they smell like roaches.

The next step was getting the robotic and real roaches to work together on common tasks. In experiments, the robots would collectively head towards a dark place, copying the behavior of natural roaches. That got the researchers wondering: if you program the robotic roaches to go toward the lighted place, would the real roaches follow, going against their natural instincts.(本能) ?

They will – it turned out. Many of the real roaches followed the robots to a lighter shelter. But influence turned out to be a two- way street. On occasion, the real roaches were able to override the programming of the robot roaches and get them to turn into dark hiding places. Being social creatures, both the robotic and natural roaches were paying attention to and following the example set by others.

In theory, it would be possible to create a robot that could influence collective decision-making in humans. To do this, researchers would have to invent a robot that people would accept. Fortunately, the technology isn’t there yet.

1．Why do scientists choose the roaches to study?

     A．They are social creatures

     B．Their social system is simple.

     C．They are able to build their hives quite well.

     D．It is easy to create robotic ones.

2．The robotic roaches are accepted by real ones because of all of the following EXCEPT that _________ .

       A．they smell like real ones

       B．they look exactly like real ones

       C．what they do are somewhat influenced by other roaches

       D．they naturally head toward dark areas

3．What’s the author’s attitude to creating a robot that would influence collective decision- making in humans?

     A．Uninterested      B．Positive              C．Negative            D．Doubtful

4．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage ?

     A．Robotic Roaches                     B．Scientists’ Research

     C．Amazing Insects                 D．Insects’ Social System

“Confidence” is probably one of the most noticeable traits(品质)in the Americans. They show confidence in the way they talk, the way they smile, the way they dress and the way they walk. Living and competing with all these confidence American students, I find it extremely important to be confident as an international student and instructor. As a student, being confident means you should never hesitate to raise your hand whenever a question or a point comes to your mind. Don’t mind if it sounds simple or silly. Otherwise you will never get a chance to speak in class at all. What’s worse, the professors may think you are not prepared for the discussion or you do not have your own opinion on the issue-this is the last comment any graduate would like to receive。  

Being confidence for me as a foreign instructor means calmly asking the student to repeat what he or she has said if I did not get it. Pretending to understand what you actually did not may just bring yourself embarrassment or even disgrace. But the time I most need to be confident is when my students come to my office and bargain about the grades I have given for their Speeches。(The course I’m teaching here is Public Speaking). Modesty is a trait highly valued in China, but it won’t be of much help here if you want to survive and succeed in a good American graduate program．

1.To compete with American students it’s very important to

A．be quite confident

B．be polite and friendly

C．have more discussions with

D．understand what they think about

2.A professor will have the worst opinion of a student who

A．gives a silly or simple answer

B．tries to seize any chance to speak in class

C．shows no interest in the course

D．is considered to have no opinion of his own

3.The author is most likely to feel embarrassed if

A．he asks a student to repeat what he has said

B．the students bargain with him

C．he pretends to know what he doesn’t

D．he has to give a speech

4.We learn from the second paragraph that

A．we should also remain modest in America

B．modesty doesn’t help modest in America

C．American also like modest people

D．modesty can help you through an American graduate program

5.What can we infer from the passage?

A．American students are ready to accept the grades from the teacher.

B．The writer teaches in Europe for a living.

C．Students are encouraged to present simple questions.

D．One’s ignorance will give away in time.

“Confidence” is probably one of the most noticeable traits (品质) in the Americans. They show confidence in the way they talk, the way they smile, the way they dress and the way they walk. Living and competing with all these confident American students, I find it extremely important to be confident as an international student and instructor. As a student, being confident means you should never hesitate to raise your hand whenever a question or a point comes to your mind. Don't mind if it sounds simple or silly. Otherwise you will never get a chance to speak in class at all. What's worse, the professors may think you are not prepared for the discussion or you do not have your own opinion on the issue—this is the last comment any graduate would like to receive.

Being confident for me as a foreign instructor means calmly asking the student to repeat what he or she has said if I did not get it. Pretending to understand what you actually did not may just bring yourself embarrassment or even disgrace. But the time I most need to be confident is when my students come to my office and bargain about the grades I have given for their speeches. (The course I'm teaching here is Public speaking). Modesty is a trait highly valued in China, but it won't be of much help here if you want to survive and succeed in a good American graduate program.

66. To compete with American students it's very important to　　 .

A. be quite confident　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. be polite and friendly

C. have more discussions with them　　　　　　　　　 D. understand what they think about

67. A professor will have the worst opinion of a student who　　 .

A. gives a silly or simple answer　　　　　　　 B. tries to seize any chance to speak in class

C. shows no interest in the course　　　　　　 D. is considered to have no opinion of his own

68. The author is most likely to feel embarrassed if 　　　.

A. he asks a student to repeat what he has said

B. the students bargain with him

C. he pretends to know what he doesn't

D. he has to give a speech

69. We learn from the second paragraph that 　　　.

A .we should also remain modest in America

B. modesty doesn't help you much in America

C. Americans also like modest people

D. modesty can help you through an American graduate program

70. What can we infer from the passage?

A. American students are ready to accept the grades from the teacher.

B. The writer teaches in Europe for a living.

C. Students are encouraged to present simple questions.　　　　 　　　　

D. One’s ignorance will give away in time.