Better hygiene (卫生) habits can help you stay healthy

According to the World Health Organization, 60 percent of people's health problems are related(与…相关) to everyday hygiene habits. As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, governments and organizations in many countries have suggested that people should pay more attention to their daily hygiene practices.

In China, for example, people usually share dishes together at the dining table. But this habit has a high risk of spreading diseases through saliva(唾液). To fight against COVID-19, many cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, have called on people to order separate(分开的)meals or use serving chopsticks(公筷) to take their food. Many people also suggest that Chinese should continue these habits after the outbreak.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked people to develop healthy hygiene habits. For example, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.

    According to a survey by YouGov, a British market research company, many Americans have taken action to change their daily habits in the face of COVID-19.

阅读理解

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.

Giraffes are the tallest animals on the Earth. Male giraffes can grow to a h{#blank#}1{#/blank#}of about 17 feet. An adult giraffe can look into your bedroom window on the second floor.

Giraffes only live on the continent of Africa. The only giraffes in China are f{#blank#}2{#/blank#}in zoos or animal parks. V{#blank#}3{#/blank#}love to see the giraffes because they are so tall.

Giraffes love to eat leaves. With their longest necks, they can e{#blank#}4{#/blank#}eat leaves from the tops of trees. Giraffes don't d {#blank#}5{#/blank#}much water. They get much of the water they need from the leaves they eat.

People often think of the North Pole and the South Pole as similar frozen wastelands. They are both places with very cold temperatures and few people live there. However, the North and South Poles are not much alike as people may imagine.

The North Pole has no land, only thick ice. Temperatures seldom go above 32°F, at which water turns into ice. Most of the time, it stays below zero. In winter temperatures are usually as low as-30 F.

Although conditions were very poor, people tried for many centuries to reach the North Pole. More than 100 years ago, two men, Robert Peary and Mathew Henson, were able to get to this environment full of troubles and difficulties. They reached the North Pole on March 8th, 1909. It was really a hard trip for them.

There are few things more dangerous than crossing the Arctic on foot. People who stayed there may face many problems: very cold temperatures, sudden storms, and even hunger. Most of the area is uninhabited. Few people can live in such a difficult place.

People might think that with such low temperatures for most of the year, the ice would be thick and hard. However, this is not true in the Arctic. The movement of the ocean water under the ice may often cause many different changes on the surface. Sometimes the ice breaks into two opening lanes of water called "leads". Anyone who falls into a lead can be frozen to death in a few minutes.

Do you like robots? Robots are 1 in the daily life. For example, they can help people save much time to do 2 work, and they can help people work out the problems when people can't do it 3 . Our country called on everyone to learn to use computers in the twenty-first century, except 4 . 

Today more and more families have their own computers. Parents buy computers 5 their children. And many of their children use computers to play games or to 6 videos instead of studying. So many teachers and parents complain (抱怨) that computers 7 help children study but make them fall behind, 8 computers are locked in boxes by parents. 

In some other countries, even some scientists also hate computers. They say computers make millions of people lose their jobs or bring them a lot of 9 . 

Will computers really bring trouble to people or can they bring people happiness? It will be decided by today's students 10 . It is all up to them. 

Get Ready for Junior High

New places, new faces, new things to do and new ways to do them ... Are you ready to start your junior high?

★{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Before the first day of school, take a practice run(路线演习). How long will it take to go to school? After the run, you will know. You don't want to be late for your first class.

★{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

You will have your new timetable(课程表) on the first school day. You can have a copy(副本) for home. Every night, have a look at the timetable and prepare for the next school day.

★{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

If you don't understand the lessons in one of your classes, ask your teachers for help after the class. They will be happy if you try your best!

★{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

You'll have more classes, more homework, and more subjects. So you should make full use of your time. After you get home from school, do your homework first. And make it a habit(习惯).

Remember that the new place will give you a new start. So don't worry!

What do you do to get ready for your junior high? (不超过10个词) {#blank#}5{#/blank#}