Exploration(探险) has changed a lot over time. In the past, only those who were willing to take risks were considered explorers. Instead, anyone can be an explorer today due to modern technology.

In the past, explorers kept diaries and wrote letters about their experiences. They would only be able to tell others what they saw after they returned. By the end of the 19th century, explorers were also able to take photos in the same way that they do today. However, they were unable to see the photos right away. It often took a long time for them to get photos printed.

But nowadays, today’s explorers can travel around the world and can send back live, real-time pictures. Thanks to high-tech devices (高科技设备) and the Internet, anyone can talk with them. When a discovery is made, we can see photos on social media and read blog posts the same day. We may not be there, but we still take part in the exploration.

There is something in common between exploration in the past and today. For example, explores strongly want to know more about the knowledge of the world. At the same time, people want to share what they discover with others, both in writing and with photos. So, even though the methods may be different, their reasons for exploration have stayed the same over time.

Jane likes shopping online. She bought an iPhone last week. She would like to find a new way to pay online. 【小题1】

John goes to work by subway every day. His company is about half a kilometer away from the station. So he wants to find a way to solve it. 【小题2】

Linda has just bought a car. She wants to drive to visit her parents in Shenzhen. She is afraid she will get lost in the city. Now she is looking for an app to help her. 【小题3】

Tom is busy preparing for the English exam. He has trouble in learning all the words. He wants to find a way to help him remember the new words. 【小题4】

Kate likes taking photos. She wants to have a trip with her friend next month. She is looking for an app to take beautiful photos during their trip. 【小题5】

Have you ever tried 3D printing? A team of seven students from No. 34 Middle School in Zhengzhou, Henan, have won awards(奖)for their creative 3D printing works.

Two of the team’s works took home the top prize at the International Youth Innovation Design Competition. It was held in France last summer. One of their works had the theme “China’s New Era(时代)”. The other work was an ancient Chinese palace. They sent the work as a gift to local officials in Lille, France.

The team members learned how to print in their school’s 3D printing club. They took classes twice a week to learn 3D printing. To make 3D-printed items, they first draw a blueprint(蓝图). Then, they use a computer to design models(模型)of the pieces they need. After that, they use a 3D printer to print the pieces and assemble(组装)them, as Liu Songyuan,14, said.

But knowing how to use the tools is just one part of mastering(掌握)3D printing. One also has to have imagination(想象力). To show the theme “China’s New Era”, they printed out items representing(代表)high-speed trains, bike sharing, cashless payment and online shopping. They placed these items around a dragon, which represented(代表)China. They made this work within just three hours, winning a national 3D printing competition in China and later the international competition.

When they got to the international competition, they wanted to present something that represented traditional Chinese culture. They were inspired(启迪)by a trip to the Palace Museum. “When we saw the buildings there, we thought ‘That’s it!” said Zhang Jiuxing, 14. They took photos of the buildings and did a lot of research to make their 3D-printed works more realistic(逼真的). “We will continue to learn about this technology and make more creative things,” Zhang added.