TOKYO, JAPAN--What do you do when you see a cockroach (蟑螂）？ Do you hit it with a newspaper? Do you step on it?

When researchers at Tokyo University see a cockroach, they take the remote control and make the cockroach turn around, run left or right, or go forward. These scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots. Each cockroach has a very small pack that has in it a microprocessor(微处理器）.Then researchers can send signals from the remote control to the pack. The signals control the movements of the cockroaches.

Why does anyone want to control a cockroach? “Insects can do many things that people can’t,” says Isao Shimoyama, head of robot research at Tokyo University. In a few years, he says, these robot insects will carry very small cameras. They will be able to move through earthquake rubble(瓦砾）to look for people or move under doors to find information about someone.

This may seem strange, but the Japanese government thinks the research is very important. The government is giving the scientists $ 5 million for this research.

First, the researchers breed (培育)hundreds of cockroaches. They use only the American cockroach because it is bigger and stronger than other cockroaches. Then they choose the best cockroaches and remove their wings and antennae(触须）. They put small packs where the antennae were. The packs weigh about three grams, or about two times the weight of the cockroaches themselves. “Cockroaches are very strong,” says Ralph Holzer, who is a researcher at Tokyo University. “They can lift 20 times their own weight. ”

With a remote control, the scientists send signals to the packs. When a cockroach gets the signal, it moves. The problem is that the cockroaches don’t always move in the right direction.

1.The scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots because ______.

2.What can cockroaches do to help people?

3.Scientists control cockroaches’ movements ______.

4.What problem do the rcscarchcrs meet with?

阅读短文，理解大意，从方框中选出适当的词，用其适当的形式完成短文(有两个词是多余的，共10分)。

Now, lots of parents take their children from activity to activity. So, many 1.________ are under too much pressure. Teachers also complain about 2.________ tired kids in the classroom . 3._______ parents are nothing new, but now parents seem to push their children a lot 4.________. In some families, competition 5.________ from a very young age. Parents see other children 6.________ a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same. Children say their parents are always comparing 7.________ with other children. They think parents shouldn’t push them so 8.________. They may find it hard 9._______ for themselves when they are older. So please give children more 10.________ to relax.

阅读下面5段语言材料，从A到F选项中，找出与它们相对应的标题。

1.Dear Mrs. Web provides free personal advice and opinions for you. She receives and answers worldwide email questions. She will offer you some new suggestions on your problems, like study stress, disinterested friend.

2.Every year thousands of old people are in need of our help. The Help Line provides a heartwarming, helpful, kind support and information service for the English–speaking aged people.

3.. Earth club is for any student in Green School. Earth Club’s goal is to help keep the school, neighborhood, and city cleaner by encouraging recycling, highway clean up, and river, lake and school campus clean up. We hope to improve the environment and encourage others to do the same.

4. My great, great grandfather invented the carpet sweeper 125 years ago. This King Sweeper is the best by far. I invite you to try it in your home. You’ll fine it used daily in hospital, restaurants, offices and homes throughout the world. This is just the thing to keep your carpet soft, clean and fresh. Only for $29.99!

5. They can protect your eyes when driving, gardening or reading in sun. It can make your life easier and happier, and make you look smarter! $10.99 each or 2 for $19.99!

Oxford graduates sell faces to pay ￡50,000 university debts

    Business is growing for two graduates who decided to pay off ( 偿清) their university debts by selling advertising space on their faces .Ross Harper and Ed Moyse, both from Oxford , are selling advertising space for hundreds of pounds a day and have earned more than ￡25,000 since setting up business last October.

Anyone can buy the advertising space , from businesses to individuals or groups, on a day-to-day basis, through the pair’s website, buymyface .co. uk. The logo (标识) is then seen by people as they go about their daily business. The pair sold their first face ads to friends and family for just ￡ 1 a day, but as need has increased, so has the daily price , which has reached an amazing ￡400 by now, the end of May. So far , the main customers have been Paddy Power , the online betting agency ( 网络博彩企业), and accountancy firm ( 会计事务所)Earnest & Young , which is now the website ‘s official sponsor ( 赞助商).

Moyse and Harper said , “ It’s our special way of paying off our student debts. We’ve seen so many students unsuccessfully applying for jobs , only to find one that they never really wanted. It’s just something a bit different and has taken off quite nicely.”  ( 236 words)

1.Why do the two Oxford graduates sell advertising space on their faces?

   A. To raise money for their friends.            

B. To earn money for their family.

   C. To pay off their university debts .          

D. To pay for their online betting

2.Where can people buy their advertising space ?

   A. At Oxford University.                    

B. At the website buymyface. co.uk.

   C. At the accountancy firm.                  

D. At the online betting agency.

3.How much money do they earn every day on average (平均) so far ?

   A. Just ￡1 .           B. About￡100 .           C. Over ￡400.             D. Up to￡500.

4.From the last paragraph we can learn that Moyse and Harper _____________________.

   A. are satisfied with their special job           

B. have paid off their debts already

   C. are ready to apply for another job           

D. never really wanted to do face ads

Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. Their school days are busy enough. After school, though, Cathy takes the two boys from football to basketball. Then she has to take her daughter to piano lessons. The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and it’s time for homework.

The Taylors are like many American and British parents. They take their children from activity to activity, and try to fit as much as possible into their kids’ lives. Doctors say many children are under too much pressure. Teachers complain(抱怨) about teaching tired kids in the classroom.

Most children take part in after-school clubs. Activities include sports, language learning, music and math classes. Pushy parents are nothing new, but now parents seem to push their children a lot more. Parents see other children doing a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same.

Linda Miller, a mother of three in London, knows all about such pressure. “In some families, competition starts from a very young age,” she says. “Mothers send their kids to all kinds of classes when they are very young. And they are always comparing them with other children. It’s crazy. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.

Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older. “Parents are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them. When these kids are adults, they might find it difficult to plan things for themselves.” Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves. On one hand, children need organized activities. On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.

(   ) 8. Cathy Taylor sends her daughter to       .

A. math classes     B. language school B. sport club      D. piano lessons

(   ) 9. Why do teachers complain about teaching those children in the classroom?

A. Because they are very tired.     B. Because they know a lot of things.

C. Because they are under too much pressure. D. Because they can’t plan things for themselves.

(   ) 10. From the passage, we know children take part in after-school activities because       .

A. they have interest in them           B. their teachers tell them to do so

C. their parents push them to do so         D. they see other children doing these things

(  ) 11. The writer probably thinks that parents should       .

A. compare their children with others    B. plan their children’s lives for them

C. take their children to different classes  

D. give children time and let them do things by themselves