【推荐1】The first word on an ancient Roman scroll carbonized by Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 C.E. has recently been decoded, opening the door to eventually decoding the rest of the texts which haven’t been read in the past 2,000 years.

The scroll, along with some 800 scrolls unearthed in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, looks more like a burnt log. It’s so fragile (易碎的) that it would fall apart if researchers tried to unroll it. Early attempts to unroll and read it caused irreversible (不可逆的) damage and no such attempts have been made since the 19th century.

Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky has been perfecting CT scan technology to see what’s inside the scrolls without actually touching them, a process he calls “virtual unwrapping”. Because commonly the ink contains metal, it can be seen on Seales’ CT scans. Unfortunately, the Herculaneum scrolls were written in carbon-based ink made from charcoal (木炭) and water. When Seales scanned them, nothing appeared to the naked eye.

Earlier this year, Seales’ team launched “the Vesuvius Challenge”, encouraging people to use AI to further explore researchers’ scans. In early August, a contestant called Casey Handmer got a reward of $10,000 for being “the first person to find substantial, convincing evidence of ink within the unopened scrolls.” As a follow-up, a 21-year-old computer science student Luke Farritor drew inspiration from his discovery and created a machine-learning algorithm (算法) that identified ten clear letters spelled as the English word “purple”, marking the first dive into an unopened ancient book.

These discoveries are critical steps toward decoding the remaining unopened scrolls. “Some 95 percent of the material from this important philosophical periods of humanity is lost,” says Robert Fowler, a classicist at the University of Bristol. “Recovering them would transform our knowledge of the ancient world in ways we can hardly imagine. The impact could be as great as the rediscovery of manuscripts during the Renaissance,” he adds.

1. Which of the following can be the reason why the scroll has become fragile?

A．It was made of a burnt log.	B．It was unearthed 200 years ago.
C．It was unrolled by some researchers.	D．It was carbonized by a volcanic eruption.

2. Why were Seales’ scans unable to read Herculaneum scrolls?

A．Because the scrolls were wet with water.

B．Because the carbon-based ink dirtied the scrolls.

C．Because the writing material contained no metal.

D．Because virtual wrappers were touched by hands.

3. What is mainly talked about in paragraph 4?

A．The influence of the research.	B．The further plans to unroll the scrolls.
C．The reason for launching the program.	D．The process of decoding the text with AI.

4. What does Robert Fowler think of these discoveries?

A．Imaginary.

B．Groundbreaking.

C．Conventional.

D．Unidentifiable.

【推荐2】The world is a stage, and now men and women aren’t the only players. A Microsoft researcher’s analysis using artificial intelligence to break down Shakespeare is a great trick showing off some shiny software. But it’s also a reminder in an increasingly automated age of what exactly makes us human.

The Microsoft project uses natural language-processing techniques to map out emotions in William Shakespeare’s text. The test is designed to prompt people who already (at least sort of) understand Shakespeare to consider his works in new ways, and to help those who have trouble understanding his works, to become better in interpreting their complexity. Romeo, it reveals in colorful graphs, feels everything more keenly than his Capulet lover Juliet, despite prevailing stereotypes of stoic masculinity (斯多葛派的男子气概). King Lear tells a story of steady decline, whereas Coriolanus has highs and lows to signal its twisty narrative-driven ride.

As useful an educational tool as this system might be, the Bard’s greatest admirers may be unable to resist raising an eyebrow. Do readers really need an algorithm (算法) to tell them that Romeo is eye-rollingly mopey (无精打采) or that things go more or less right for Macbeth until they start going very wrong? Isn’t it part of the point of studying Shakespeare today that it’s overwhelming and foreign until, suddenly, it’s familiar? These objections might all be secondary to a more powerful fear: The thought that a computer can read Shakespeare just as well as we can seems to take the human out of the humanities.

Therefore, it is reassuring to learn that, advanced as machine-learning has become and as far- reaching as the implications of the technology may be, Microsoft’s tool thought that The Comedy of Errors was, well, a tragedy. That’s because the slapstick physicality in the play confused it. Algorithms have trouble distinguishing friendly teasing from cruel mockery (嘲弄), which would puzzle any computer that tried to make sense of Mercutio. Sarcasm is an ongoing computational dilemma. None of this should surprise anyone who follows social media sites losing battles against racist trolls, whose tendency to mask racism in irony makes their posts difficult to delete through the use of automated content moderation tools. In that context, algorithmic shortcomings are a burden.

Balancing the benefits more humanlike AI could bring with the risk for abuse is a tough task from a practical point of view. From a more human one, however, it can be hard not to hope the tide of technological change will roll in slowly. Those hidden meanings, mystifying relationships and even groan-worthy puns (双关) that beat machines are what make Shake-speare Shakespeare. They’re also what make us us.

1. In paragraph 2, the writer mentions Romeo, Juliet, King Lear and Coriolanus in order to ________.

A．highlight Al’s different understanding of Shakespeare

B．prove that there are various ways to understand Shakespeare

C．illustrate the complexity in understanding Shakespeare

D．show how technology may help us better understand Shakespeare

2. Why do many people object to the idea of AI reading Shakespeare?

A．Because AI can only read more familiar literary works.

B．Because reading Shakespeare is like a walk in the park.

C．Because human beings are a must in literature analysis.

D．Because computers often misinterpret how a character feels.

3. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A．It is quite uncertain whether technological change will occur.

B．We should take Al’s advantages and disadvantages into account.

C．That the Al wrongly classified The Comedy of Errors is fearsome.

D．Algorithms often fail to identify the true intentions behind human language.

4. Which of the following best serves as the title for the passage?

A．Interpretation of Shakespeare Suffers-Is There Any Fix?

B．Machines Can’t Quite Crack Shakespeare-That’ s a Relief!

C．Shakespeare No Longer Exists in Automation-Is That True?

D．AI Revitalizes Shakespeare—What an Amazing Breakthrough!

【推荐3】Theodore Roosevelt took a determined approach to life, which can be summarized as “do what you can with what you have, where you are.” In other words, when you are seeking success, use every available resource. Theodore Roosevelt had no time for quitters (轻易放弃的人) or complainers. He would never accept that something was impossible. Every task, every goal, and every dream can be completed. All you needed to do is to make a start. Use what you have around you to take your first step. Do not make excuses for not doing something. Instead, give all the reasons for setting out to complete the task. There is always an alternative way of approaching a. project. Giving up is not one of those alternatives.

Neither quitters nor complainers achieve success. They continuously find ways of doing anything. When you are chasing success, don’t give yourself excuses. Instead, challenge yourself. Making the best of what you are given is positive. Achieving success through working to find different ways of doing a task or overcoming an obstacle (障碍物) will make you feel good. Your self-belief and confidence will be improved, and you will feel able to deal with whatever else comes along.

Theodore Roosevelt was a great supporter of self-discipline. He believed that if we could not control our own lives, how could we lead others? When you put self-discipline on yourself, you remove indecision and replace it with purposefulness. You become an example to others, which adds to your self-esteem (自尊). What must we do, therefore, to boost our self-esteem? Most importantly, see the positive in everything. There will be positives in negative experiences. Even in the negative, there are lessons to be learned and experiences to store away for the future. If others are to believe in you, then you must believe in yourself.

Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th and youngest US President. He achieved high office as a result of being a tough political operator and a man blessed with experience and wisdom. He was determined, self-esteem, and filled with self-belief and a sense of purpose. All of his achievements came from his life lessons.

1. Which statement will Theodore Roosevelt probably agree with?

A．Giving up is a good choice.	B．Accept something impossible.
C．Using resources helps you succeed.	D．Good beginning means good ending.

2. How can we improve our self-esteem according to Roosevelt?

A．We’d better not give up.	B．We need to increase our confidence.
C．We should keep overcoming obstacles.	D．We may look on the bright side of things.

3. Which of the following can best describe Roosevelt?

A．Optimistic and determined.	B．Self-confident and selfish.
C．Self-disciplined and indecisive.	D．Aimless and proud.

4. What can be the best title for this passage?

A．Everything Is Possible

B．Life Lessons from Theodore Roosevelt

C．The Key to Success-- Self-confidence

D．Success Depends on Available Resource