This week, Google researchers published a paper describing results from an AI tool built to create music. The tool, called MusicLM, is not the first AI music tool to be launched. But the examples Google provided demonstrate musical creative ability based on a limited set of descriptive words.
Several different music examples produced by MusicLM were published online. Some of the generated music came from just one- or two-word descriptions, such as “jazz”, “rock” or “techno (高科技舞曲)”. The tool also created other examples from more detailed descriptions containing whole sentences.
In one example, Google researchers included these instructions to MusicLM, “It is a soundtrack of a game. It is fast-paced and upbeat, with a catchy electric guitar riff (反复乐节). The music is repetitive and easy to remember, but with unexpected sounds ...” In the resulting recording, the music seemed to keep very close to the description. The team said the more detailed the description was, the better the system could attempt to produce it.
The MusicLM model operates similarly to the machine-learning systems used by ChatGPT. ChatGPT and MusicLM both require powerful computers to operate complex machine-learning models. The San Francisco-based company OpenAI launched ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT has recently received a lot of attention because of its ability to generate complex writings and other content from just a simple description in natural languages. Such tools can produce human-like results because they are trained on huge amounts of data. Many different materials are fed into the systems to permit them to learn complex skills to create realistic works.
However, the MusicLM researchers said there were some risks linked to the new tool. One of the biggest issues the researchers identified was biases (偏好) present in the training data. A bias might be including too much of one side and not enough of the other. The researchers said this raised a question about appropriateness for music generation for cultures underrepresented in the training data.
1. What can we learn about MusicLM?| A．It is the first AI music tool to be launched. |
| B．It requires detailed descriptions of full sentences. |
| C．It creates music based on simple descriptive words. |
| D．It generates complex writings from a simple description. |
| A．They can take the place of musicians. | B．They have gained commercial success. |
| C．They don't have any practical use in life. | D．They are based on huge amounts of data. |
| A．Creating music with strong biases. | B．Requiring too much training data. |
| C．Being difficult for some people to use. | D．Producing music works with no creativity. |
| A．The future of humans with AI | B．A new AI tool to make music |
| C．Music created by some AI tools | D．AI and its function in culture development |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Happy, angry, amazed—these are some of the emotions we like to express these days when we’re sending a message on our smart phones! That’s why many of us now add little pictures to our texts to brighten up someone’s mobile screen but we’re also using them as a quick way of telling someone how we’re feeling. Yes, emojis (表情符号) have become a popular tool for communication.
The emoji was first invented in Japan in the late 1990s and the word “emoji” comes from the Japanese words for “picture” and “character”. The number of different images has greatly increased since then and now we have a picture for nearly every mood or situation.
Why are emojis widely used today? Professor Vyv Evans says, “Increasingly, what we’re finding is that digital communication is replacing face-to-face talk in some ways. One of the reasons why emojis are so interesting is that they really do enable us to express our emotional selves much more effectively.”
Another advantage of emojis is that they are an international language—they don’t use words but tell a message with pictures so they can be easily understood whatever your native language is.
But as linguist (语言学家) Neil Cohn says, “To many, emojis are an exciting evolution (进化) of the way we communicate; but to others, they are linguistic Armageddon.” It does show by using emojis, there is a lot more to our communication than words alone, but does this also mean that the traditional writing will die out one day?
1. What is implied(暗示) in Paragraph 2?| A．The emoji was first invented in Japan. |
| B．The word “emoji” only means “picture” and “character”. |
| C．More and more pictures are used to express our mood today. |
| D．The number of emoji images will increase rapidly in the future. |
| A．Emojis can never be misunderstood. |
| B．Emojis are similar to some native languages. |
| C．Emojis make us communicate more effectively. |
| D．Emojis can replace face-to-face communication. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
【推荐2】How we eat is changing drastically. A few years back, food delivery was limited to pizzas and a few Chinese dishes. But the advanced technologies, user-friendly apps, and the internet have dramatically changed the restaurant industry and delivery platforms.
Convenience
It is a fact that all of us are having a very busy schedule. In many families, both of the partners are working and may not have enough time to cook food.
No pressure buying
Every business booms on promotion.
Growth of the restaurant industry
| A．Promotion does not always work. |
| B．Now everything is available within our reach. |
| C．The restaurant and grocery industry are no different. |
| D．Online food delivery brought them great convenience. |
| E．But with online shopping, we do not buy a product on our impulse. |
| F．Neither do they have time to go out and order their food from outside. |
| G．The restaurant industry has also been profiting from the booming food delivery services. |
【推荐3】On the International Day for Monuments and Sites, China Daily’s digital employee Yuanxi and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes’ official virtual car to on figure “Jiayao” together introduced an interactive (交互式的) digital platform that hosts a virtual copy of the Mogao Grottoes’ Library Cave to the world.
The platform was developed jointly by the Dunhuang Academy and the Chinese tech firm Tencent. It uses gaming technologies to show the historical scenes of the Library Cave in the digital world.
The Library Cave in Mogao Grottoes was discovered in 1900, with more than 60,000 cultural relics unearthed. It was one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century.
On the platform, visitors can role-play and “time travel” to ancient dynasties and talk with eight historical figures. The public can enter the platform through the Digital Dunhuang website and its WeChat mini program.
“In the digital age, the model of ‘culture+technology’ has been introduced to promote the development of Chinese culture. The digitalization rate of China’s precious cultural relics is over 70%,” according to iResearch.
Institutions such as the Palace Museum have also started online digital services of their own. AI technology allows the public to view the interior of the buildings through the Palace Museum’s WeChat mini program.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has also encouraged the development and transformation of culture by digital means. The CCTV has created a series of digital collections with different Dunhuang themes, such as the divine deer, Youyou. It was created based on the image of the nine-colored deer from Dunhuang murals (壁画).
“Digital collections are welcomed among young people, who grow up in the information age. They not only protect the cultural intellectual property (知识产权) but also bring the public closer to China’s ‘excellent traditional culture’,” noted Dunhuang Art Institute.
Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy, told Xinhua that more efforts will be made to explore new forms for showing cultural relics and offering the public greater cultural experience s in the future.
1. What can we know about the virtual copy of the Mogao Grottoes’ Library Cave?| A．The Dunhuang Academy developed it secretly. |
| B．Both time-traveling and gaming technologies were used in it. |
| C．It was discovered in the 20th century with more than 60,000 cultural relics. |
| D．People can have access to it through the Wechat mini program of Digital Dunhuang. |
| A．Showing the latest technologies in China. |
| B．Helping cultural institutions make a profit. |
| C．Pushing the development of Chinese culture. |
| D．Encouraging young people to explore Chinese cultural relics. |
| A．By listing numbers. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By giving definitions. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．China’s new way in rebuilding Mogao Grottoes’ Library Cave. |
| B．China’s interactive digital platform in developing Dunhuang culture. |
| C．China’s success in promoting the digitization rate of cultural relics. |
| D．China’s latest advances in the development of cultural intellectual property. |
【推荐1】MIT researchers have developed a way to incorporate(融入)electronic sensors into fabrics, allowing them to create shirts or other garments that could be used to monitor vital signs such as temperature and heart rate. The sensor-embedded garments can be customized to fit close to the body of the person wearing them.
"We can have electronic parts or lab-made electronics embedded within the textiles that we wear every day, creating comfortable garments," says Dagdeviren, an professor at MIT. His group set out to create garments more similar to the clothes we normally wear, using a fabric that has removable electronic sensors in it.
"In our case, the textile is not electrically functional. It's just a passive element of our garment so that you can wear the devices comfortably during your daily activities," Dagdeviren says. "Our main goal was to measure the physical activity of the body all from the same body part, without requiring any fixture or any tape."
The electronic sensors consist of long flexible strips(细条). These channels have small openings that allow the sensors to be exposed to the skin. For this study, the researchers designed a shirt with 30 temperature sensors and an accelerometer that can measure the wearer's movement, heart rate, and breathing rate. The garment can then transmit(传输)this data wirelessly to a smartphone.
This kind of sensing could be useful for personalized telemedicine, allowing doctors to remotely monitor patients. "You don't need to go to the doctor or do a video call," Dagdeviren says. "Through this kind of data collection, I think doctors can make better assessments and help their patients in a better way."
Last summer, several of the researchers spent time at a factory in Shenzhen, China, to experiment with mass-producing the material used for the garments. “From the outside it looks like a normal T-shirt, but from the inside, you can see the electronic parts which are touching your skin,” Dagdeviren says.
1. Why do MIT researchers make sensor-embedded garments?| A．To create garments with medical functions. |
| B．To satisfy customers' personal need for fashion. |
| C．To complete their academic tasks. |
| D．To transform patents for benefits. |
| A．Monitoring wearers' behavior. | B．Making the skin fully exposed. |
| C．Adjusting wearers' body temperature. | D．Collecting and transmitting health information. |
| A．They will bring convenience to patients. | B．They could be in mass-production soon. |
| C．They might lead the new fashion. | D．They may take the place of doctors. |
| A．It's fashionable. | B．It's skin-friendly. |
| C．It's eco-friendly. | D．It's awkward. |
【推荐2】Have you ever thrown together stuff you had on hand and were pleasantly surprised when it tasted good? You aren’t alone. Here’s a menu of some familiar foods that never would have happened if someone hadn’t created them by mistake.
ICE CREAM CONE(圆锥形)
Before the ice cream cone, people ate their ice cream out of dishes or paper containers. This changed at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. A seller ran out of dishes to serve his ice cream. Luckily, Ernest A. Hamwi, a quick-thinking seller nearby, rolled his waffle-like pastries (糕点) into a cone shape. The ice cream seller filled it with ice cream for his customers. He was able to continue selling ice cream, and customers got a second treat when they realized they could eat the cone.
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
In 1930, Ruth Graves Wakefield was running the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts. One day, Ruth mistook baker’s chocolate for semi-sweet chocolate and added the pieces to the dough(面团). Unexpectedly, the chocolate pieces stay the same inside the cookie instead of melting. Then the chocolate chip cookie was born.
POTATO CHIPS
In 1853, a man was eating dinner at Moon’s Lake House, New York. He ordered fried potatoes. But when they came out, he wasn’t satisfied. He sent them back to the kitchen, where Chef George Crum was so angry about it that he sliced the potatoes really thin, put much salt on them, and fried them. Not only did the diner love them, but they soon became popular.
TOFU
Tofu, or bean curd, is made by curdling fresh soya milk, pressing it into a block, and then cooling it. Tofu was accidentally invented in China 2,000 years ago, when a cook added seaweed to soy milk. This is the same process that is used for making cheese. Like cheese, tofu is a great example of creating something unexpectedly good.
1. What do these foods have in common?| A．They are made of unusual material. |
| B．They were created by accident. |
| C．They have their origins in the same region. |
| D．They require complex cooking steps. |
| A．Ice cream cone. | B．Chocolate chip cookies. |
| C．Potato chips. | D．Tofu. |
| A．Customers got another ice cream free of charge if they ate the cone. |
| B．Hamwi turned his pastries into a cone shape to draw customers’ attention. |
| C．George served potato chips to the picky customer hoping he would love it. |
| D．Seaweed needs to be added in order to make cheese. |
【推荐3】Green is the new gold. As China is transitioning(转变)towards a greener development mode, low-carbon industries in the country have been boosting in recent years, which has led to more business opportunities for companies worldwide.
The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is a fine illustration. Last year alone, China sold about 6.89 million NEVs, up 93.4 percent year on year. The market share of NEVs in China’s auto market reached 25.6 percent in 2022, up 12.1percentage points from 2021.
Domestically, China’s green transition is bringing a real change. Globally, it is also helping other countries to sustain green growth. “China is the largest supplier of solar energy equipment across the world and in Africa in particular,” said Ajay Mathur, director general of the International Solar Alliance. While noting that many solar panels and batteries being used in Africa are of Chinese origin, Mathur stressed China’s involvement and huge potential in terms of realizing Africa’s seeking for solar energy development. “There is the greatest link that exists between the Chinese manufacturers of solar energy technology and the African users of that technology,” he said.
Apart from African countries, China is also sharing its green development philosophy with many more countries across the globe. The Chilean capital of Santiago has been tapping electric vehicles from China as part of plans to improve its public transport system and advance clean travel.
While boosting development, maintaining biological diversity(生物多样性)is also important. For example, many tunnels were extended and roads are replaced by bridges to protect elephant habitats in the construction of the China-Laos Railway.
“The contribution of China’s green development to global sustainable development cannot be ignored, and it also sets an example for other countries’ green development,” said Abdulrahman Aldakhil, director of Corporate Communication of Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover Development Combating Desertification. “China’s promotion of international cooperation to protect the environment is a reflection of its sense of responsibility,” he said, “China’s experience in green development is worth learning from.”
1. What message does the author convey in the first two paragraphs?| A．Most new energy vehicles have been made. |
| B．New energy vehicles sell well at home and abroad. |
| C．China is trying to move to a green development mode. |
| D．Green habits should be developed to protect the environment. |
| A．Supply food. | B．Promote green development. |
| C．Sell solar energy skills. | D．Build railways. |
| A．To praise Chinese for their taking care of animals. |
| B．To thank China for its contribution to other countries. |
| C．To acknowledge China’s efforts in protecting biodiversity. |
| D．To show that Chinese people are good at road construction. |
| A．Countries should strengthen cooperation. |
| B．Human beings should protect the environment. |
| C．China is a model for other countries to follow. |
| D．Green development can make the country stronger. |
【推荐1】From Marrakech to Cape Town, Africa has so much to offer. From culture hotspots to natural sights, it can be difficult to decide. Here are some top destinations to recommend.
Kruger National Park
Bursting with a variety of wildlife in large numbers, Kruger is considered South Africa’s best park for a reason. In addition to the awesome amount of nature on display, the facilities are also fantastic, with great hotels and camps to suit all kinds of budgets.
Cape Town
Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for breathtaking views across the whole city. Hang out and relax at the Victoria and Alfred waterside area where you can visit the Museum of Contemporary African Art, try local dishes at the food market, or join a walking tour to explore the area’s history dating back to the 17th century.
Victoria Falls
Over 1,700 metres wide, Victoria Falls sits on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border. As November marks the start of the rainy season, it’s the perfect time to visit, as with all the extra water the falls will be at their most dramatic!
Okavango Delta
Boats are the best way to get around this watery wilderness, and perfect for getting up close to hippos and crocodiles. This is also a great place to explore African cuisine, with delicious dishes like Vetkoek, a type of burger served with curry, and chilli sauce.
So, whether you want to take a walk on the wild side or want to dive into a city’s culture(or both!), book your Africa adventure here in just a few simple clicks.
1. What do we know about Kruger National Park?| A．You need pay much for visiting. |
| B．The facilities appeal to tourists. |
| C．The rainy season is the best time for visiting. |
| D．You can content yourself with delicious dishes. |
| A．Okavango Delta | B．Kruger National Park |
| C．Cape Town | D．Victoria Falls |
| A．A website. | B．A journal. |
| C．A textbook. | D．A report. |
| Space Center Houston is an official visitors’ center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Touch a real moon rock. See astronauts train on a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA. It’s an out-of-this –world experience for all ages. | |
| Prices Adult: ages 12+, $46 Child: ages 3-11, $36 Beginning July 1, Space Center Houston attractions will remain the same, but our price will increase: Adult, $49; Child 3-11, $39 through February 28, 2015. You can get tickets online or at the main entrance. | |
| Highlights The journey into space begins with the film On Human Destiny at the Destiny Theater. The NASA Tram Tour, a 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour, takes you to real working areas of Johnson Space Center. Experience the thrill of launching into space like a real astronaut in the Blast-Off Theater. Kids Space Place is perfect for children of all ages who have dreamed of being an astronaut. | Advice for Visitors Arrive early and allow 4 to 5 hours to enjoy all the attractions. Take the NASA Guided Tram Tour to see Rocket Park, the Historic Apollo Mission Control Center and astronauts train. Buildings visited on Tram Tour are real working areas of Johnson Space Center and subject to close without notice. Get 10% off your purchase in the Space Trader or Gift Station. |
| On-site Services Parking: Paid parking available Dining: Zero-G Diner Gift Shops: Space Trader and Gift Station | Opening hours Open daily, 10am-5pm. Closed at Christmas. |
| Group Requirements Groups of 15 or more: Call (281) 283-4755. | |
1. Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．It will usually take 4 to 5 hours for visitors to enjoy all the attractions. |
| B．Visitors to Space Center Houston can buy tickets only by calling or online. |
| C．Space Center Houston is suitable for families to visit together at Christmas. |
| D．John and his wife will spend $92 if they visit Space Center Houston in January 2015. |
| A．By seeing the film On Human Destiny. |
| B．By visiting the real working areas. |
| C．By visiting Kids Space Place. |
| D．By taking the NASA Tram Tour. |
| A．park the car free of charge |
| B．stay there for at most 5 hours |
| C．visit the real working areas anytime |
| D．shop at a 10% discount in the Gift Station |
【推荐3】We all know that zebra have strips(条纹). But why? It’s hard to get a black-and-white answer. This is a question not just common people like us have asked, but scientists too.
Several studies have been done to find out the reason behind the stripes and many theories have been suggested. According to a recent study, the type of stripes changes depending on the temperature where zebras live. The warmer the place is, the more stripes they may have. From this study, scientists believe that stripes may help to keep a zebra cool in warmer places.
According to the cooler temperature theory, when air hits a zebra, the movements of air are stronger and faster over the black parts and slower over the white. This is because black color takes in more heat than white. So at the point where the black and white meet, there is cooling airflow. It can quickly cool a zebra’s skin! In fact, scientists have noticed that heavily striped zebras have 5.4℉ lower skin temperature than other animals without stripes in the same area.
Some scientists believe that stripes may be an adaptation by zebras to defend themselves from the horseflies that follow zebras. The cooler temperature theory holds merit here to, since disease-carrying flies like horseflies like it hot, Flies also don’t like landing on striped surfaces.
There also have been many other theories that have been suggested for why zebras have stripes. Some explanations are very common. One of them is that stripes may help zebras hide in grass especially from lions. Lions are color blind and even if they are not far away they may see stripes as grey and be confused by them. What’s more, zebras are a large group of animals living together. When a number of zebra stand or move together, stripes may confuse lions into thinking it is one large animal.
1. Stripes are helpful for zebras to ________.| A．stay cool | B．move together |
| C．live in cold places | D．fight against diseases |
| A．Lions may be frightened away by strips |
| B．Lions may see stripes as many animals |
| C．Stripes can prevent zebras from being seen |
| D．Stripes may make lions confused |
| A．works well | B．sounds unreasonable |
| C．causes disagreement | D．needs supporting facts |
| A．Why lions can’t eat zebra | B．How horseflies keep away from zebras |
| C．Why zebras have strips | D．How stripes keep a zebra cool |
