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(微處理器）.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(瓦礫）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(觸須）. 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.
【小題1】The scientists are changing the cockroaches into robots because ______.

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(微處理器）.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(瓦礫）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(觸須）. 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?

How do you feel when you have to make a speech in front of class? What about when you go to a birthday party? Do you get really shy?
Shyness means feeling nervous or afraid when you’re around other people. Experts have found that more than 80% of middle school students feel afraid to be the center of attention. Some kids are born shy. Some become shy later because of their life experiences(經(jīng)歷).
It’s OK if it takes you a while to feel yourself again when you go to a new place or meet new people. In fact, everybody gets a little shy sometimes. It’s just a case of how much.
Most people have red faces and talk in broken sentences when they get shy. But some become so shy that they won’t go to a restaurant because they are too nervous to order and pay for their food. Some are afraid of meeting new people, so they seldom go outside. This kind of shyness can be bad for a person.
If shyness doesn’t stop you from doing something you want to do, being shy isn’t a very big problem. Some experts say shy people are cleverer because they think more and talk less. Shy people are also good at working with others because they think more for other people. Some great people in history were shy, too.
You see, being shy isn’t all bad. But remember not to let good opportunities(機(jī)會) pass by just because of it! If you have to sing a song at a birthday party or practice your spoken English in front of others, just do it! There’s nothing to be afraid of.
【小題1】The underlined phrase “to feel yourself again” in the third paragraph means “________”.

You’re going to high school，aren’t you? Maybe you don’t know what to do．Well，here s a list of the top six things to do when you’re in high school．These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like．Here you go!

①Find your passion（激情）and what kind of person you are：Whether it’s dance，basketball，or drawing, the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in．

②Talk to people you wouldn’t usually talk to：Meet new people，find new friends and even talk to the people you don’t like．It will show what a great person you are．You never know what will happen after high school．

③Take part in at least one contest（競賽）：This will give you tears（眼淚）of laughter，happiness and memories．

④Get a Job：This will help you see what it’s like to have responsibility（責(zé)任）．It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself．

⑤Take a trip with your friends：It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do，the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place．

⑥D(zhuǎn)o your best at school：Don’t ever get lazy．Working hard now will help you in the future

1．The writer mainly tells you six things you should do_______

A．in your high school years

B．a(chǎn)t the beginning of your high school years

C．before your high school begins

D．a(chǎn)fter you finish your high school

2．The writer gives you advice that you should talk to the people you don't like because_______

A．you will feel sorry if not                    B．it will show how great you are

C．you can show how clever you are                   D．you can make your study better

3．From Point ③, we know that you can _______in a contest．

A．get lots of tears

B．have a strong body

C．get good grades in high school

D．have different feelings and memories

4．Which of the following you'd better not do according to the passage?

A．Find your interest．                      B．Get a job．

C．Take a trip with your friends．               D．Get lazy．

5．What's the main idea of the passage?

A．Have a happy school life．

B．How to get along with your schoolmates．

C．Ideas of successful high school life．

D．Make your school life easy．