Question

   Here's a good deed you can do without parting with a single thing.Synthetic(合成的) voices for people who have lost the ability to speak only come in generic( —般的) types — think of Stephen Hawking's voice — but one amazing project wants to build custom voices for each person. To do that they need your help: specifically,a recording of your voice.

   VocallD is the brainchild of two speech scientists,who are turning their research into a much larger project. Voice is very personal and,like a prosthetic(假體） leg or arm,it makes sense it should be customized to each person.

   Here's how it works — and don't worry,this does not mean someone will be walking around with the same voice as you out there:

   After recording a couple of hours of audio in,say,a quiet room with an iPhone,you send it to Vocall   D. where a program called ModelTalker cuts it up into the basic units of speech that can be recombined as new words and sentences. In that same step,characteristics of the patient's voice — based on what limited sounds they can make 一 are mixed with the donor's to create a whole new one.

   VocallD is still in its beginning stages,and they're looking for help from everyone including voice donors,financial support,and programmers. A priority(優先的事物) is making voice donation even easier,cutting down recording time,especially for kids. But as it stands already,your voice is just about the easiest thing to donate.

6. Stephen Hawking's voice.

   A. has no personal characteristics

   B. was donated by a volunteer

   C. was created by VocallD

   D. sounded amazing

7. We can infer that VocallD aims to .

   A. do research on voices

   B. teach some people to speak

   C. produce prosthetic legs or arms

   D. help some people have their “own” voice

8. To create a new voice,which of the following is / are needed?

   A. Sounds made by the patient.

   B. A few days of audio recording.

   C. The voice of at least two donors.

   D. ModelTalker that can combine words.

9. What is the main purpose of the text?

   A. To introduce some jobs in Vocall   D.

   B. To encourage readers to donate their voice.

   C. To advertise a program called ModelTalker.

   D. To collect money for people who cannot speak.

Answer 1

6. A 7. D 8. A 9. B

(現代技術)

本文是說明文。文章介紹了如何給不會說話的人捐獻聲音。

6. A. 推理判％題。由第一段中的 Synthetic voices for people ... custom voices for each person 可 知，史蒂芬•霍金那樣的合成語音 是一般的類型，而一個新的項目 想要為不能講話的人制作個性化 的聲音。據此可推斷，史蒂芬•霍 金的合成語音沒有個性特征。

7. D. 細節理解題。由第一段中的 one amazing project wants to build custom voices for each person及第二段中的Voice is very personal and ... it makes sense it should be customized,to each person 可知，VocallD 旨在幫 助人ft擁有有個性特征的聲音。

8. A. 細節理解題。由第四段中的 characteristics of the patient's voice — based on what limited sounds they can make ——are mixed可知，要在捐獻的聲音的基 礎上制作一個新的聲音，需要患 者自己發出的聲音。

9. B. —作目的題。由文章開頭的 Here,s a good deed you can do 及 文章末的 your voice is just about the easiest thing to donate 可推斷，文章主要是鼓勵讀者為不能講話 的人捐獻自己的聲音。