Useful inventions
Inventions change how we live, work, play and think about what’s possible. Every year, TIME magazine lists (列出) the 100 best inventions based on their creativity (创造性) and impact (影响) on our lives. What did the magazine choose this year? Let’s take a look.
Easier to read
Reading can be a big challenge for tens of millions of people. They may have poor vision (视力) or reading difficulties. But OrCam Read can help them! It’s the first of its kind reading pen with a smart camera and an AI system. After scanning (扫描) a page of text with the click of a button (点击按钮), it can read the text aloud to the user. You don’t need to connect (连接) it to the Internet. You can use it offline at home, work, school, or eve in stores when you need to read a price tag (标签).
Sweet idea
Honey is produced by bees. But today’s beekeeping business (养蜂业) is not good for these hard-working insects. Bee farmers may kill them after harvesting (收获) honey because it’s cheaper than feeding the bees through the winter. To save bees, US company MeliBio has found a way to make the world’s first bee-free honey. They used synthetic biology (合成生物学) to create honey directly from plants. This kind of honey tastes just like the real one, and it is healthy, too.
Keep you calm
When you feel angry or unhappy, what do you do about it? Scientists say you can try to calm others. This can help you calm down. That’s why Purrble was invented. This furry (毛茸茸的), bear-like toy has 9 sensors (感应器). It has a quick “heartbeat (心跳)” and can respond to your touch.
As you hold and pet it, its heartbeat slows. And it purrs (发出咕噜声) like a cat. It sounds like it really enjoys your touch! Through petting Purrble, you will become more aware of your own feelings and learn how to feel calm yourself.
【小题1】How should people with reading difficulties use OrCam Read?| A．Use it to scan text they need to read. | B．Use it to scan images they can’t see. |
| C．Connect it to a small camera. | D．Connect it to the Internet. |
| A．Bees can do what they want. | B．Spend less money feeding bees. |
| C．Bees can be set free after working. | D．No bees are needed. |
| A．It is not good for human health. |
| B．It has the same taste as real honey. |
| C．It is made from real honey. |
| D．It helps beekeeping businesses make more money. |
| A．Its sensors can sense your anger. | B．It can touch you with its furry hands. |
| C．Its purrs can slow your heartbeats. | D．It can help you know your feelings. |
| A．OrCam Read. | B．The new kind of honey. |
| C．Purrble. | D．Bear-like cats. |
