1、2023年高考英语外刊时文精读精练 (6)Roaches to the rescue蟑螂救援队主题语境：人与社会 主题语境内容：科学与技术【外刊原文】（斜体单词为超纲词汇，认识即可；下划线单词为课标词汇，需熟记。）Why go to all the trouble ofdesigningand building adrone（无人机）if nature has already done most of the job for you? That is the attitude taken by the small butdeterminedband of researchers who are
2、 trying to robotise（机械化）insects. Some are working on turning insects likebeetles（甲虫）into such cyborgs（半人半机器的生物）perhapsfor use inmilitaryinspectionorspying. Others prefer toconcentrateon thefearful side ofentomology（昆虫学）, by taking electronic control of cockroaches（蟑螂）.The first cyber-roach（赛博蟑螂） goe
3、s back to1997, when Shimoyama Isao of Tokyo University sent electrical signals to acockroachsantennae（触角）, causing it to turn either left or right depending on whichantennawasstimulated. Others have built on this approach by recruiting extra sense organs, such as therear-facingcerci（后向尾须）. They have
4、 also begun fitting theinsectswithinstrumentpacksthat might let them do a useful job: searching collapsed buildings for survivors.One such is Sato Hirotaka of Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore. He has been working on cyber-insects for15years. Now, he has added anothertwistto cyber-roach
5、es. Instead of having theirmovementsdictatedby remote control, his areautonomousagents. They are run byalgorithms（算法）that respond directly tosensorsin their backpacks.Theinsectsthus fitted out by Dr Sato are Madagascar hissing（发声） cockroaches, which are about6cm long. The backpacks contain acommunic
6、ationschip, a carbon-dioxide sensor, amotionsensor, aninfrared（红外线）camera and a tinybattery.Releasedinto therubble（碎石）, tocrawltheir way through while searching for signs of life such as movement, body heat and higherCO2levels from breathing. Theartificialintelligencethat decides whether a set of si
7、gnals actuallyindicatethepresenceof a human being is programmed directly into the camera. If it thinks it hasspottedsomeone, italertsarescuer.To test thisarrangement, Dr Sato and his team rantrialsin asimulateddisasterzone. They laid outconcreteblocksof various shapes and sizes in an area of25square
8、metres. Among these were a number of people, and also somedecoys(诱饵), such as a heatlamp, amicrowaveovenand alaptop. They thenreleasedthe cyber-roaches, having first programmed into them the searchs start and end points. The softwareprovedable to recognisehumanscorrectly87% of the time, a success ra
9、te Dr Sato thinks could beimprovedstill further by collecting multiple images from differentangles.The nextphaseof the project is torefinethe system for use out of doors. That done,manufactureof the backpacks andautomationof theirattachment(附加装置)to theinsectswill need to be commercialised（商业化）. If a
10、ll goes well, Dr Sato predicts the result could be available for usewithin five years.【课标词汇】1. design设计；制（图）；意图，打算Who designed this building/dress/furniture?是谁设计这座建筑物这款裙子这套家俱？This dictionary is designed for advanced learners of English.本词典是为高级英语学习者编写的。These measures are designed to reduce pollution.
11、采取这些措施旨在减低污染。2. determined下定决心的，坚决的，决意的Im determined to get this piece of work finished today.我决心今天完成这项工作。He was determined that the same mistakes would not be repeated.他决心不重蹈覆辙。3. military军事的；军用的military targets/forces军事目标力量military uniform军装We may have to take military action. 我们可能不得不采取军事行动。4. spy
12、从事间谍活动; 秘密收集情报:He was charged with spying on British military bases.他被指控刺探英国军事基地情报。East and West are still spying on one another.东西方仍在互相进行间谍活动。5. concentrateon集中（注意力）；聚精会神I decided to concentrate all my efforts on finding somewhere to live. 我决定全力以赴找个住的地方。I decided to concentrate all my efforts on fi
13、nding somewhere to live.我决定全力以赴找个住的地方。6. electronic电子的；电子器件的:an electronic calculator 电子计算器 electronic music 电子音乐 This dictionary is available in electronic form. 本词典有电子版本。 7. depend on 由决定，取决于He was the sort of person you could depend on. 他这个人你是可以信赖的。I dont want to depend too much on my parents. 我不
14、想过度依靠父母。8. stimulate激发，激励；促进Her interest in art was stimulated by her father.她对艺术的兴趣是她父亲激发的。An inspiring teacher can stimulate students to succeed.一位具启发能力的教师能够激励学生取得成功。9. recruit招聘，吸收；招收（新成员）Even young boys are now being recruited into the army.就连很小的男孩子都被征召入伍了。Were having difficulty recruiting enoug
15、h qualified staff.我们难以招聘到足够的合格职员。10. fit安置；安装Shes been fitted with an artificial leg.她装了一条义肢。The rooms were all fitted with smoke alarms. 所有的房间都安装了烟雾报警器。 11. collapse（由于压力、无力或缺乏支持而）倒塌，坍塌，崩溃，垮掉Thousands of buildings collapsed in the earthquake.数以千计的建筑物在地震中倒塌了。The chair collapsed under her weight.椅子承受
16、不了她的重量散架了。12. twist转动，旋转；缠绕，盘绕;曲解，歪曲The path twists and turns for over a mile.这条小路弯弯曲曲，长达一英里多。She sat there nervously twisting the ring around on her finger.她紧张地坐在那里，不停转着手指上的戒指。She twisted her head (round) so she could see what was happening.她扭过头来，想看看发生了甚么事。Youre twisting my words - thats not what I
17、 said at all.你在扭曲我的话我根本不是那样说的。13. dictate命令，下（令）；决定，规定 I wanted to take a year off, but my financial situation dictated that I got a job.我想休息一年，但我的经济状况迫使我必须工作。The tennis club rules dictate that suitable footwear must be worn on the courts.网球俱乐部的规则规定上场必须穿适当的运动鞋。14. autonomous (地方或机构自治的;有自主能力的，自主的;Gal
18、icia is an autonomous region of Spain.加利西亚是西班牙的一个自治区。He treated us as autonomous individuals who had to learn to make up our own minds about important issues.他把我们当作独立自主的个体来看待，认为我们必须学会在重大问题面前自己拿主意。15. communication交流；沟通；交际；传达；传播；通讯Television is an increasingly important means of communication.电视是一种日益
19、重要的传播工具。Theres very little communication between mother and daughter (= they do not have a good relationship).母亲和女儿之间沟通很少。16. motion动；运动；移动Do not alight while the train is still in motion (= moving).列车未停稳时不要下车。The rocking motion of the boat made Sylvia feel sick.小船晃来晃去，使西尔维娅感到恶心。 17. release释放，放走；放开
20、，松开The operation released him from years of pain.手术使他摆脱了多年的病痛。The bears are eventually released into the wild.这些熊最后被放回野生环境。18. crawl缓慢移动；艰难前行；爬行；匍匐前进The child crawled across the floor.那个孩子爬过了地板。The lorry crawled noisily up the hill.货车轰轰隆隆吃力地爬上山坡。19. searchfor查找，搜寻An RAF plane searched for the missin
21、g men.一架皇家空军的飞机搜寻了那些失踪者。Scientists are still searching for a cure.科学家们仍在寻找对策。20. artificialintelligence 人工智能21. indicate表明，显示:The study indicates a connection between poverty and crime.研究显示贫穷和犯罪有关联。A survey of retired people has indicated that most are independent and enjoying life.对退休人员的调查表明，大部分人都自
22、食其力,享受生活。22. presence出席，在场；（事物的）存在，出现Hes usually quite polite in my presence.在我面前他通常很有礼貌。I asked you not to smoke in my presence.我叫你不要在我面前抽烟的。23. spot看见，看出；注意到The police spotted him driving a stolen car.员警发现他开着一辆偷来的车。I soon spotted what was wrong with the printer.我很快就发现了印表机的毛病出在哪里。The policewoman sp
23、otted that I hadnt got my seat belt on and signalled me to stop.女警发现我没有系安全带，便示意我停车。24. alert机警的，机敏的，敏捷的Im not feeling very alert today - not enough sleep last night!今天我感觉特别迟钝昨晚没睡好！Parents should be alert to sudden changes in childrens behaviour.父母应该对孩子行为的突然变化有所警觉。25. arrangement安排；筹划；准备（工作）Theyd mad
24、e all the arrangements for the party.他们为聚会作好了一切准备。 Ive agreed to help with arrangements for the party.我答应帮着准备聚会。26. trial试验；试用Theyve employed her for a six-month trial (period).他们录用了她，试用期为六个月。The robots have been on trial for the past year.这些机器人过去一年都在试用当中。27. simulate类比，模仿；假装，伪装In cheap furniture, p
25、lastic is often used to simulate wood.廉价家俱经常用塑胶冒充木材。Some driving teachers use computers to simulate (= represent) different road conditions for learners to practise on.有些驾驶教练用电脑类比不同的路况供学员练习。28. prove证明是，结果是The operation proved a complete success.这场手术结果是大成功。The new treatment has proved to be a disast
26、er.这种新疗法的结果是一场灾难。29. recognize认出; 认识; 辨认出;正式承认，认可I didnt recognize you in your uniform.你穿上制服我认不出你了。He did not think she could recognize his car in the snow.他觉得她在雪天里认不出他的车子。It was recognized that this solution could only be temporary.人们意识到这只是个临时的解决方案。30. improve改进；改善He did a lot to improve conditions
27、 for factory workers.他为改善工厂工人的工作条件做了许多工作。Her health has improved dramatically since she started on this new diet.自从开始这种新的饮食，她的健康状况大为改善。31. phase（发展或变化的）阶段，时期during the first / next / last phase 在第一/下一/最后阶段 the initial / final phase of the project工程的初始/最后阶段 a critical / decisive phase 关键性/决定性阶段 Were
28、entering a new phase in international relations.我们现正进入国际关系的新阶段。32. refine改进；完善；使精炼Car makers are constantly refining their designs.汽车制造商在不断完善他们的设计。Surgical techniques are constantly being refined.外科手术的技术不断得到完善。33. manufacture（通常指工厂利用机械大量）制造，（大批）生产He works for a company that manufactures car parts.他在
29、一家生产汽车零件的公司工作。【课标词汇精练】根据语境，从上面的“课标词汇”和“重点短语”中选用合适的单词及其正确形式将句子补充完整。1. I never agreed to against the United States.2. You should your efforts on passing these exams. 3. The community on the shipping industry for its survival. 4. Good teachers should ask questions that students to think.5. With an hour
30、s walk to the nearest telephone, is difficult.6. They showed the goal again in slow .7. Police arrested several men, who were later.8. Charities such as Oxfam are always trying volunteers to help in their work.9. This range of clothing is specially for shorter women.10. Shes sure to get the job she
31、wants - shes a very person.11. He disagrees with the government what children are taught in schools.12. They proudly declared themselves part of a new province.13. The injured soldier to safety.14. Engineers spent many months the software.15. They a smoke alarm to the ceiling. 16. He thought his who
32、le world when his wife died.17. This report shows how she the truth to claim successes where none, in fact, existed.18. Theyfor a spot where they could sit on the floor.19. Research that over 81% of teachers are dissatisfied with their salary.20. The government has threatened to take action if the r
33、ebels do not withdraw from the area.21. British medical qualifications in Canada.22. I thought the best way to my French was to live in France.23. were made to move the prisoners to another jail.24. Theyre doing clinical on a new drug.25. Ruth pleasure at seeing Simon, but really she wished he hadnt
34、 come.26. He was determined not to complain in the of the nurse.27. If youany mistakes in the article just mark them with a pencil.28. A couple of readers wrote in to the paper pointing out the mistake.29. The dispute over the song rights impossible to resolve.Keys:1. spy 我从来没有答应去当间谍刺探美国的情报。2. conce
35、ntrate 你应该集中精力通过这些考试。3. depends 这个社区靠航运业维持生活。4. stimulate好的老师应该问一些能激发学生思考的问题。5. communication到最近的电话亭要走一个小时，通讯极为不便。6. motion他们用慢动作又播了一次进球画面。7. released警察逮捕了几个人，后来都释放了。8. to recruit 诸如牛津饥荒救济委员会这样的慈善组织总是在尽力吸收志愿者来帮助他们工作。9. designed这系列服装是专为身材较矮的女性设计的。10. determined她肯定会得到她想要的那份工作她是个意志很坚定的人。11. dictating他不
36、同意由政府来决定孩子在学校学习哪些课程。12. autonomous他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。13. crawled受伤的士兵慢慢爬向安全的地方。14. refining工程师们花了数月来完善这个软体。15. fitted他们把烟雾报警器安装在天花板上。 16. had collapsed妻子去世后他觉得自己的整个世界都坍塌了。17. twisted 这份报告表明她扭曲事实，她所宣称的那些成就其实根本不存在。18. searched他们在地板上寻找一处能够坐下的地方。19. indicates研究结果显示超过 81% 的教师对他们的薪水不满意。20. military政府警告，如果叛
37、乱分子不从该地区撤出，就要采取军事行动。21. are recognized 英国的行医资格在加拿大得到认可。22. improve我认为提高我的法语水准的最好办法是到法国生活。23. Arrangements 已经作出安排将犯人转至另一监狱。24. trials他们正在对一种新药进行临床试验。25. simulated 看见西蒙，露丝假装很高兴，可是实际上她希望他没来。26. presence他决定不当着那位护士的面抱怨。27. spot 如果你发现文章中有错误，请用铅笔标出来。28. alert有几个眼尖的读者给报社写信，指出了这个错误。29. proved结果是，有关歌曲版权的争论根本无
38、法解决。【译文】如果大自然已经为你做了大部分工作，为什么还要大费周章地去设计和制造无人机呢？这是一小群研究人员所持的坚定态度，他们正努力尝试使昆虫机械化。有些研究人员正致力于把像甲壳虫这样的飞行动物变成赛博格昆虫可能用于军事侦察或间谍活动。其他人通过控制蟑螂，更多地专注于昆虫学中那些令人毛骨悚然的一类。首只赛博蟑螂出现在1997年，当时东京大学的下山勲（Shimoyama Isao）通过电信号刺激蟑螂的触角，使其根据触角受到刺激而向左或向右转变方向。其他人在这种方法的基础上也做了许多实验，刺激了不同的感觉器官，如后向尾须。他们还开始给昆虫配备仪器包，让它们做一件有意义的工作：搜寻倒塌建筑物下的
39、幸存者。新加坡南洋理工大学的佐藤弘子（Sato Hirotaka）就是其 中一员。15年来，他一直致力于研究赛博昆虫。现在，他又对赛博蟑螂进行了改进。改进后的赛博蟑螂的行动不是由遥控控制，而是由他们自主导航，通过算法直接对他们仪器包中的传感器下达指令。佐藤博士给马达加斯加的发声蟑螂配备了背包，这种蟑螂长度达6厘米。背包里包含一个通信芯片，一个二氧化碳传感器，一个运动传感器，一个红外摄像头和一节微型电池。在废墟里执行搜救任务时，蟑螂会被释放出来，一边爬行一边搜寻着生命的迹象，如身体的移动、体温和呼吸产生的高浓度二氧化碳。研究人员给摄像机直接编入了一套人工智能程序，这样蟑螂就能够判定一组信号是否真的能表明有人类存在。如果蟑螂认为有幸存者，它就会向救援人员发出警报。为了测试这一装置，佐藤博士和他的团队在模拟灾区进行了试验。他们在25平方米的区域内铺设了大小形状各不相同的混凝土块，并将很多人分散其中，还放置了一些“诱饵”，如加热灯、微波炉和笔记本电脑。在程序中设置好搜索的起点和终点后，研究人员释放了这些赛博蟑螂。实验证明，该软件能够准确识别人类的概率为87%，佐藤博士认为，通过从不同角度收集多幅图像，这一成功率还可以进一步提高。该项目的下一步是改进系统，以便在户外使用。这样一来，背包的制造与配备在昆虫身上的自动装置将会商业化。佐藤博士预估，如果一切顺利的话，这项成果可以在五年内投入使用。