Robo-Lance

A bicycle built for two: one rider and one robot to do all the work

The project began as a challenge. Cart Morgan’s son Justin, recalling how he used to have to crank up a nasty hill outside their Bainbridge Island, Washington, home every day, asked his dad, a retired electrical engineer, if he (38)_____ build something that would take care of the pedalling lazy biker. The “yes” (39)_____ about a year later — an electric-motor-powered tandem bicycle featuring a gleaming robot named Joules.

Morgan spent months modelling how (40)_____ a motor spin into pedal-pushing legs. The motor inside Joules’s torso turns a series of linked belts and chains that transfer power from one area of the robot to the next. Each upper leg pivots at the hip, raising and lowering its knee and forcing the lower leg to turn the pedal. He also added “bones” (rods on the outside) for needed stiffness.

Morgan was nervous when he climbed in front for the final test, but Joules (41)_____ cruised to the top of the hill. The bike could probably do more, even hit 30 miles per hour, but Morgan says he doesn’t plan to find out: “I think Joules could go (42)______ faster but we’ll never know for sure.”

Robo-Lance

A bicycle built for two: one rider and one robot to do all the work

The project began as a challenge. Cart Morgan’s son Justin, recalling how he used to have to crank up a nasty hill outside their Bainbridge Island, Washington, home every day, asked his dad, a retired electrical engineer, if he (38)_____ build something that would take care of the pedalling lazy biker. The “yes” (39)_____ about a year later — an electric-motor-powered tandem bicycle featuring a gleaming robot named Joules.

Morgan spent months modelling how (40)_____ a motor spin into pedal-pushing legs. The motor inside Joules’s torso turns a series of linked belts and chains that transfer power from one area of the robot to the next. Each upper leg pivots at the hip, raising and lowering its knee and forcing the lower leg to turn the pedal. He also added “bones” (rods on the outside) for needed stiffness.

Morgan was nervous when he climbed in front for the final test, but Joules (41)_____ cruised to the top of the hill. The bike could probably do more, even hit 30 miles per hour, but Morgan says he doesn’t plan to find out: “I think Joules could go (42)______ faster but we’ll never know for sure.”

Robo-Lance

A bicycle built for two: one rider and one robot to do all the work

The project began as a challenge. Cart Morgan’s son Justin, recalling how he used to have to crank up a nasty hill outside their Bainbridge Island, Washington, home every day, asked his dad, a retired electrical engineer, if he (38)_____ build something that would take care of the pedalling lazy biker. The “yes” (39)_____ about a year later — an electric-motor-powered tandem bicycle featuring a gleaming robot named Joules.

Morgan spent months modelling how (40)_____ a motor spin into pedal-pushing legs. The motor inside Joules’s torso turns a series of linked belts and chains that transfer power from one area of the robot to the next. Each upper leg pivots at the hip, raising and lowering its knee and forcing the lower leg to turn the pedal. He also added “bones” (rods on the outside) for needed stiffness.

Morgan was nervous when he climbed in front for the final test, but Joules (41)_____ cruised to the top of the hill. The bike could probably do more, even hit 30 miles per hour, but Morgan says he doesn’t plan to find out: “I think Joules could go (42)______ faster but we’ll never know for sure.”

Robo-Lance

A bicycle built for two: one rider and one robot to do all the work

The project began as a challenge. Cart Morgan’s son Justin, recalling how he used to have to crank up a nasty hill outside their Bainbridge Island, Washington, home every day, asked his dad, a retired electrical engineer, if he (38)_____ build something that would take care of the pedalling lazy biker. The “yes” (39)_____ about a year later — an electric-motor-powered tandem bicycle featuring a gleaming robot named Joules.

Morgan spent months modelling how (40)_____ a motor spin into pedal-pushing legs. The motor inside Joules’s torso turns a series of linked belts and chains that transfer power from one area of the robot to the next. Each upper leg pivots at the hip, raising and lowering its knee and forcing the lower leg to turn the pedal. He also added “bones” (rods on the outside) for needed stiffness.

Morgan was nervous when he climbed in front for the final test, but Joules (41)_____ cruised to the top of the hill. The bike could probably do more, even hit 30 miles per hour, but Morgan says he doesn’t plan to find out: “I think Joules could go (42)______ faster but we’ll never know for sure.”

Robo-Lance

A bicycle built for two: one rider and one robot to do all the work

The project began as a challenge. Cart Morgan’s son Justin, recalling how he used to have to crank up a nasty hill outside their Bainbridge Island, Washington, home every day, asked his dad, a retired electrical engineer, if he (38)_____ build something that would take care of the pedalling lazy biker. The “yes” (39)_____ about a year later — an electric-motor-powered tandem bicycle featuring a gleaming robot named Joules.

Morgan spent months modelling how (40)_____ a motor spin into pedal-pushing legs. The motor inside Joules’s torso turns a series of linked belts and chains that transfer power from one area of the robot to the next. Each upper leg pivots at the hip, raising and lowering its knee and forcing the lower leg to turn the pedal. He also added “bones” (rods on the outside) for needed stiffness.

Morgan was nervous when he climbed in front for the final test, but Joules (41)_____ cruised to the top of the hill. The bike could probably do more, even hit 30 miles per hour, but Morgan says he doesn’t plan to find out: “I think Joules could go (42)______ faster but we’ll never know for sure.”

Reading

Task 1

Tips on Travelling Abroad

________________

Make sure that you have all the necessary vaccinations and that you have renewed all important prescriptions. Also, take some key pills with you. Yes, even the most historic European neighbourhood has a drugstore. It might even be marked on the map in your guidebook. But do you want to be running around Germany late at night, looking for aspirin?

Tips on Travelling Abroad

________________

To avoid any problems, double-check the expiration date of your passport. If necessary, renew your passport. Secondly, get it copied. If your passport gets stolen or lost, you want to be sure that you can still get back into the country, or be able to prove your citizenship.

Tips on Travelling Abroad

________________

It’s a good idea to have a place to stay booked for your arrival day. Even if you prefer not to plan every day of your trip, it’s always good to have a place to go to when you arrive. Also, you'll usually have to write an address down on your customs form, so having your hotel/hostel address is good for that as well.

Tips on Travelling Abroad

________________

Not every place takes credit cards, especially places like trains or buses. Some countries require travellers to pay in order to enter or leave the country. These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket. So, be ready to have enough money in your pocket, including small change to pay fares.

Tips on Travelling Abroad

________________

Here are some important contacts to store in your phone:

— the nearest consulate or embassy

— local police and fire stations

— nearby hospital or medical centre

— any other contacts you may need in trouble!

Task 2

Johan Reinhard: A Real Story

In 1995, among ice and volcanic ash 20,700 feet high in the Andes, Johan Reinhard discovered a 500-year-old Inca mummy. Reinhard is an explorer at the National Geographic Society. Here’s his story in his own words.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois where the possibilities for exciting exploration were limited. But for a young boy, it was still an adventure to go camping along the river that flowed through the town. My father’s job as a detective meant that I had a fascination with trying to solve “mysteries” as well. My childhood memories are of using fingerprinting and powder that showed up under ultraviolet light. And fishing and hunting took me outdoors. I read about the adventures of the Hardy Boys, then those of modern-day explorers, and I kept wondering why I couldn’t do some of the same things. When I turned 16, I joined a railroad line gang, working with Southerners and travelling throughout the Midwest. I learned two valuable lessons: I could earn a living in difficult circumstances simply by working hard, and I was fascinated learning about people with a cultural background different from my own. I used my savings from the line gang to travel alone to Brazil, where I came into contact with jungle tribes. Back in the U.S., I began scuba diving, cave exploring, skydiving, and mountain climbing.

When I began studying cultural anthropology and archaeology at the University of Arizona, I saw unlimited possibilities for combining the outdoor skills I'd learned with anthropology in remote parts of the world. The next step seemed only logical: I decided I'd learn more by studying anthropology in a foreign country, since I'd be “living” anthropology while studying it in a different language. Once I had studied cinematography and learned to analyse unwritten languages, I felt ready for the career I'd foreseen for myself while still a boy: anthropological research.

With anthropology, my desire to visit little-known places could be combined with my interest in understanding other cultures. To me it seemed like I would be solving mysteries. I was fascinated by questions like: Why did people in the past build such unusual structures (such as giant drawings in the sand) in such difficult places (such as mountaintops)?

How can someone become an explorer? It is not necessary to be a great athlete, but it is necessary to be fit and to know how to take care of oneself and others in an emergency. Practical skills, such as mapping and auto repair, are always useful! Key is speaking a foreign language and being trained in a field of science. But perhaps one of the most important necessities is being able to form friendly relationships with diverse people under difficult circumstances (a good sense of humour is critical). Determination and a sense of responsibility may be enough for some expeditions.

What are Johan Reinhard’s earliest memories about?

Task 2

Johan Reinhard: A Real Story

In 1995, among ice and volcanic ash 20,700 feet high in the Andes, Johan Reinhard discovered a 500-year-old Inca mummy. Reinhard is an explorer at the National Geographic Society. Here’s his story in his own words.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois where the possibilities for exciting exploration were limited. But for a young boy, it was still an adventure to go camping along the river that flowed through the town. My father’s job as a detective meant that I had a fascination with trying to solve “mysteries” as well. My childhood memories are of using fingerprinting and powder that showed up under ultraviolet light. And fishing and hunting took me outdoors. I read about the adventures of the Hardy Boys, then those of modern-day explorers, and I kept wondering why I couldn’t do some of the same things. When I turned 16, I joined a railroad line gang, working with Southerners and travelling throughout the Midwest. I learned two valuable lessons: I could earn a living in difficult circumstances simply by working hard, and I was fascinated learning about people with a cultural background different from my own. I used my savings from the line gang to travel alone to Brazil, where I came into contact with jungle tribes. Back in the U.S., I began scuba diving, cave exploring, skydiving, and mountain climbing.

When I began studying cultural anthropology and archaeology at the University of Arizona, I saw unlimited possibilities for combining the outdoor skills I'd learned with anthropology in remote parts of the world. The next step seemed only logical: I decided I'd learn more by studying anthropology in a foreign country, since I'd be “living” anthropology while studying it in a different language. Once I had studied cinematography and learned to analyse unwritten languages, I felt ready for the career I'd foreseen for myself while still a boy: anthropological research.

With anthropology, my desire to visit little-known places could be combined with my interest in understanding other cultures. To me it seemed like I would be solving mysteries. I was fascinated by questions like: Why did people in the past build such unusual structures (such as giant drawings in the sand) in such difficult places (such as mountaintops)?

How can someone become an explorer? It is not necessary to be a great athlete, but it is necessary to be fit and to know how to take care of oneself and others in an emergency. Practical skills, such as mapping and auto repair, are always useful! Key is speaking a foreign language and being trained in a field of science. But perhaps one of the most important necessities is being able to form friendly relationships with diverse people under difficult circumstances (a good sense of humour is critical). Determination and a sense of responsibility may be enough for some expeditions.

What was Johan Reinhard’s childhood dream?

Task 2

Johan Reinhard: A Real Story

In 1995, among ice and volcanic ash 20,700 feet high in the Andes, Johan Reinhard discovered a 500-year-old Inca mummy. Reinhard is an explorer at the National Geographic Society. Here’s his story in his own words.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois where the possibilities for exciting exploration were limited. But for a young boy, it was still an adventure to go camping along the river that flowed through the town. My father’s job as a detective meant that I had a fascination with trying to solve “mysteries” as well. My childhood memories are of using fingerprinting and powder that showed up under ultraviolet light. And fishing and hunting took me outdoors. I read about the adventures of the Hardy Boys, then those of modern-day explorers, and I kept wondering why I couldn’t do some of the same things. When I turned 16, I joined a railroad line gang, working with Southerners and travelling throughout the Midwest. I learned two valuable lessons: I could earn a living in difficult circumstances simply by working hard, and I was fascinated learning about people with a cultural background different from my own. I used my savings from the line gang to travel alone to Brazil, where I came into contact with jungle tribes. Back in the U.S., I began scuba diving, cave exploring, skydiving, and mountain climbing.

When I began studying cultural anthropology and archaeology at the University of Arizona, I saw unlimited possibilities for combining the outdoor skills I'd learned with anthropology in remote parts of the world. The next step seemed only logical: I decided I'd learn more by studying anthropology in a foreign country, since I'd be “living” anthropology while studying it in a different language. Once I had studied cinematography and learned to analyse unwritten languages, I felt ready for the career I'd foreseen for myself while still a boy: anthropological research.

With anthropology, my desire to visit little-known places could be combined with my interest in understanding other cultures. To me it seemed like I would be solving mysteries. I was fascinated by questions like: Why did people in the past build such unusual structures (such as giant drawings in the sand) in such difficult places (such as mountaintops)?

How can someone become an explorer? It is not necessary to be a great athlete, but it is necessary to be fit and to know how to take care of oneself and others in an emergency. Practical skills, such as mapping and auto repair, are always useful! Key is speaking a foreign language and being trained in a field of science. But perhaps one of the most important necessities is being able to form friendly relationships with diverse people under difficult circumstances (a good sense of humour is critical). Determination and a sense of responsibility may be enough for some expeditions.

What did Johan Reinhard spend his first money on?

Task 2

Johan Reinhard: A Real Story

In 1995, among ice and volcanic ash 20,700 feet high in the Andes, Johan Reinhard discovered a 500-year-old Inca mummy. Reinhard is an explorer at the National Geographic Society. Here’s his story in his own words.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois where the possibilities for exciting exploration were limited. But for a young boy, it was still an adventure to go camping along the river that flowed through the town. My father’s job as a detective meant that I had a fascination with trying to solve “mysteries” as well. My childhood memories are of using fingerprinting and powder that showed up under ultraviolet light. And fishing and hunting took me outdoors. I read about the adventures of the Hardy Boys, then those of modern-day explorers, and I kept wondering why I couldn’t do some of the same things. When I turned 16, I joined a railroad line gang, working with Southerners and travelling throughout the Midwest. I learned two valuable lessons: I could earn a living in difficult circumstances simply by working hard, and I was fascinated learning about people with a cultural background different from my own. I used my savings from the line gang to travel alone to Brazil, where I came into contact with jungle tribes. Back in the U.S., I began scuba diving, cave exploring, skydiving, and mountain climbing.

When I began studying cultural anthropology and archaeology at the University of Arizona, I saw unlimited possibilities for combining the outdoor skills I'd learned with anthropology in remote parts of the world. The next step seemed only logical: I decided I'd learn more by studying anthropology in a foreign country, since I'd be “living” anthropology while studying it in a different language. Once I had studied cinematography and learned to analyse unwritten languages, I felt ready for the career I'd foreseen for myself while still a boy: anthropological research.

With anthropology, my desire to visit little-known places could be combined with my interest in understanding other cultures. To me it seemed like I would be solving mysteries. I was fascinated by questions like: Why did people in the past build such unusual structures (such as giant drawings in the sand) in such difficult places (such as mountaintops)?

How can someone become an explorer? It is not necessary to be a great athlete, but it is necessary to be fit and to know how to take care of oneself and others in an emergency. Practical skills, such as mapping and auto repair, are always useful! Key is speaking a foreign language and being trained in a field of science. But perhaps one of the most important necessities is being able to form friendly relationships with diverse people under difficult circumstances (a good sense of humour is critical). Determination and a sense of responsibility may be enough for some expeditions.

What is NOT important for becoming an explorer, according to the author?