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Future astronauts could travel with emotional support robots

    To help astronauts of the future survive (幸免于) the mental (精神的) challenges that come with staying in space for quite a long time, space travelers‟ tasks could soon be accompanied(陪伴) by AI-powered, empathetic (有同理心的, 同感的) robotic helpers.

    Not only does space travel present astronauts with lots of physical stresses, spending months or years in such a physically demanding (要求高的) place with limited space and the same people can also raise many mental tests as well. According to MIT Technology Review, scientists are working to alleviate astronauts from some of the latter challenges by creating "an AI assistant that's able to feel human emotion and respond (做出反应) with empathy."

    While such a technology would prove itself useful by being able to predict the needs of the

crew members in space and "intervene (干预) if their mental health is in danger," it has the potential to be life-saving when humans choose to explore beyond Earth's gravitational field (引力场) and towards deep space.

    Though astronauts currently on the International Space Station have an intelligent robot to interact with called CIMON, it is short of proper emotional intelligence according to NASA CTO Tom Soderstrom. As a result, a team at the organization's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is working on a more complex (复杂的) emotional support companion that can control a spacecraft's functioning in addition to tracking the crew members‟ behaviours.

    Right now in the lab, an AI-equipped robot called Henry the Helper can be found walking around the grounds assisting visitors who appear confused or lost based on their facial expression. Two more emotionally intelligent robots are expected to be introduced later this year, one of which is said to be able to take part in conversations more complex than giving navigation(导航) assistance.

    The team's final goal is to make a companion named Fiona the Future a reality, an emotionally intelligent cross-platform system. Fiona, if all goes according to the JPL's plans, will help keep astronauts of the future stay mentally fit as they start their journeys to deep space.

Almost everyone has a question or two about living in space. What is life really like in space? And what do astronauts do there?

Astronauts living in space have the same hygiene(卫生) needs as people do on the earth. When they wake up, they wash their hair, brush their teeth and go to the bathroom as well. However, because of microgravity(微重力), astronauts have to use a kind of special matter to wash their hair and use leg restraints(安全装置) to place themselves when they use the toilet.

Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some food can be eaten in the natural form such as fruit. Other food needs water such as noodles. There are no fridges in space, so space food must be stored and prepared correctly and they won't go bad.

Besides morning routine (常规) and eating in space, astronauts perform many tasks, such as checking the machines and updating(更新)computer equipment. At the same time, the control centre on the earth sends messages to the astronauts through voice or email with new instructions to help them with their daily work.

What's more, living in space is not just all work and no play. They can enjoy themselves by looking out of the window, watching movies, reading books, playing cards and talking to their families during their free time.

Health is very important to everyone. Different people have their own ways to keep fit. A lot of people like running on the treadmills (跑步机). But it is not a good way to make you strong and healthy. Here are some reasons why you should run outdoors but not on the treadmills.

It costs you a lot of money to buy a treadmill. You can run outdoors, and it costs you nothing! Walk outside and the whole world is your treadmill. If you don't mind getting a little dirty, outdoor activities will help you.

Treadmills can become boring. You are limited to what's in front of you. Running and exercising outside provides a beautiful scenery (风景). Studies show that just looking at photos of nature can lower blood pressure (降低血压), so imagine what running through it will do. The fresh air and the unpolluted nature will also make you run more easily.

You burn (燃烧) more calories running outside than you do on a treadmill, because you have to work harder in order to move your body. When you run on a treadmill, you only move your legs. But when exercising outside, you must move your legs and your hands and so on.

Why not go for a run outdoors? Come on!

Write a slogan(标语) for Hangzhou in the last paragraph. (No more than 10 words) {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Make a timetable!

 Do you have problems after starting junior high? You may have more subjects to learn and less(更少的) time for sleep. But some classmates adapt(适应) quickly to their new school life. Nick makes a timetable. It shows his daily life from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. It helps him arrange(安排) his school days well.

 So how can a timetable help students? First, it can help them live a healthy life. Some students have no time for a good breakfast or some exercise. With a timetable, they can do them well. Second,a timetable can help them do more things in one day. It sets(设置) time for differ- ent things, so they know what to do at different times.

 You may find it difficult to keep a timetable. But when you do the same activities every day, they finally become your habit(习惯).

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Do you think making a timetable is a good idea? Why? (答案不超过15个单词) {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

 One of the favorite classes for Cheng Ning is the weekly information technology class. There she gets to experience painting and playing word games with AI robots. Cheng Ning and her classmates are from East China's Zhejiang Province. The province is one of the leaders to bring AI into classes of schools in China. Students have more chances to learn AI courses(课程).

 To deepen the connection between AI and education, Zhejiang provides AI courses in primary and middle schools. It hopes to help students have a good foundation(基础) for their future studies.

 Many cities in Zhejiang are connecting AI with education. In 2022, Hangzhou introduced an AI education platform (平台) from Tencent. Students can experience AI in class. For example, students can control AI robots as engineers on"Mars" to finish special tasks in the robot project.

 Also, in Wenzhou, another city in Zhejiang, many schools have offered at least one AI course. Since 2023, Wenzhou has developed 700 AI education experimental schools. Most schools in Wenzhou have had a complete AI education teacher team. By the end of 2025, there will be 300 more experimental schools in Wenzhou.

AI courses will become more popular in primary and middle schools, and AI labs will be fully covered in every school in these cities and even across the province.