In 1986, the Honda automotive company wanted to see if it could make a human-like robot, to help in home, play football, balance on one foot, and even dance. Over the years there were some problems but soon the researchers managed to get a robot named ASIMO. It could walk on uneven(不平坦的) surfaces, and move its center of gravity like we do to climb stairs.

    More recently, ASIMO was improved so it could turn round and run at six kilometers per hour, using its upper body to control movement.

    ASIMO is designed to be friendly. It is hoped that robots like this could be used to help elderly people in their home. Honda are also using this technology to help people with disabilities. It can also push a cart(手推车) and open and close doors. ASIMO can even shake hands. It stands 120 centimeters tall, so that it can look into adult faces when they are sitting down. It can hold two kilos in its hands. It can even carry a tray without dropping the contents.

    So, where next for this kind of robot? Well, while ASIMO is attractive, it is still controlled by a human. Researchers in the USA are working on the robots that can learn about the world around them, and give a reply to human touch and voice. The robots are even learning to recognize(辨认) objects, people and vocabulary. Soon the descendants(后代) of these robots may be serving you drinks or helping with jobs at home and at work.

    Coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are found in warm ocean(海洋）waters all over the world. Coral reefs are important because they are home to many ocean plants and animals. They also help keep the sea clean. As well, they provide（提供）food, jobs and a special place to visit for millions of people all over the world.

    There are three main kinds of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs and coral atolls. Coral reefs are formed（形成）by tiny animals called coral polyps.

    When coral reefs are healthy, they keep the ocean environment balanced. But many things that humans do are making the reefs sick. Some reefs are even starting to die.

    We should protect coral reefs and help them become healthy again.

每题答案不超过8个词。

    WeiFang and Liu Lin are the students of Green School. They are good friends. Theywant to join some clubs.

    Thereare many clubs in their school. They are English club, music club, swimmingclub, chess club, art club and so on. Wei Fang wants to join the music club.She wants to be a musician when she grows up(长大).Her favourite singer is Song Zuying. (1)她能唱歌和跳舞。Now she can play the piano and play the guitar well, but she can'tplay the violin. Liu Lin can play chess and he can swim well.  But he can only speak a little English. So hewants to join the English club to improve(提高)hisEnglish. On Sundays, he often plays basketball with his friends. He wants to bea basketball player like Jeremy Lin. (2)你想加入什么俱乐部？

    Have you ever been to Singapore? For many Chinese tourists, this small island in Southeast Asia is a wonderful place to take a holiday. On the one hand, more than seventy-five percent of population are of Chinese descent, so you can simply speak Mandarin most of the time. On the other hand, Singapore is an English-speaking country.

    When the ancient Chinese paid their first visit here in the early 14^th century, it was still a small seaside city. Later in the 1820s, the British Empire claimed it as a colony (殖民地). Singapore hasn't been an independent country until 1965. From then on, it has become an important port of trade and business between different countries.

One great thing about Singapore is that the temperature is almost the same all year round. It seldom drops below 20℃. It's warm and wet the whole year. This is because it is so close to the equator (赤道). So you can choose to go whenever you like—spring, summer, autumn or winter! And, of course, it's not too far from China. For those who enjoy the sun and the beach, Singapore is an ideal place.

    On the northeast coast of Singapore, Changi Village is far from the noise of central Singapore. The buildings are modern, but there's still a village terminal (晚期的) atmosphere. There's a small, attractive seaside camp site across the Changi Creek from the bus terminal, where you can watch the planes gliding into Changi airport while relaxing on the sand.

    Most large cities have zoos, but have you ever been to a zoo at night? Singapore has a night zoo called the "Night Safari". It might seem strange to go to a zoo when it's dark. But if you've ever been to a zoo during the daytime, you might understand why Night Safari is so special. A lot of animals only wake up when it goes dark at night, so this is the best time to watch them. At the Night Safari, you can watch these animals in more natural environment than a normal zoo.

    Mo Ya, Nobel Prize winner in literature (文学)in 2012, believes his success comes from a large amount of reading.

    Mo was born into a farming family in a village in Shandong Province. Mo left school at the age of 12 and started to work in the fields. Mo was tired after his daily hard work, but he was always hungry for books. However, there were very few books in the village, he never gave up. He read his elder brother's textbooks and even dictionaries.  He helped others with farm work in exchange for books.

    After Mo left his hometown and joined the army in 1976, he began to read widely, including works by Lu Xun and many other famous writers. He studied from these writers but did not copy them.  Instead, he developed his own style.

    Once there lived a farmer. He was the happiest man in England. He was busy all day, but he was always happy. He also liked to make everybody else happy, and people like him.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} "I will go and talk with this wonderful farmer." He said, "Maybe he can tell me how to be happy."

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The king wanted to be happy like the farmer, so he asked the farmer to change the place with him and he lived on the farm. The farmer smiled and said, "I'm sure I don't want to do that, sir." "Now tell me what makes you so happy here on your dirty farm, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}" said the King. The farmer smiled again and said, "{#blank#}4{#/blank#} I live an easy life and I enjoy it. I make my own bread. I love my wife, children and friends, and they love me, too. That's all." The King said, "{#blank#}5{#/blank#}."