【推荐1】Researchers say they have used brain waves of a paralyzed man who cannot speak to produce words from his thoughts onto a computer. A team led by Dr. Edward Chang at the University of California, San Francisco, carried out the experiment.

“Most of us take for granted how easily we communicate through speech,” Chang told The Associated Press. “It’s exciting to think we’re at the very beginning of a new chapter, a new field to ease the difficulties of patients who lost that ability.” The researchers admit that such communication methods for paralysis victims will require years of additional research. But, they say the new study marks an important step forward.

Today, paralysis victims who cannot speak or write have very limited ways of communicating. For example, a victim can use a pointer attached to a hat that lets him move his head to touch words or letters on a screen. Other devices can pick up a person’s eye movements. But such methods are slow and a very limited replacement for speech.

Using brain signals to work around disabilities is currently a hot field of study. Chang’s team built their experiment on earlier work. The process uses brain waves that normally control the voice system. The researchers implanted electrodes on the surface of the man’s brain, over the area that controls speech. A computer observed the patterns when he attempted to say common words such as “water” or “good.” Over time, the computer became able to differentiate between 50 words that could form more than 1,000 sentences. Repeatedly given questions such as “How are you today?” or “Are you thirsty,” the device enabled the man to answer “I am very good” or “No, I am not thirsty.” The words were not voiced, but were turned into text on the computer.

In an opinion article published with the study, Harvard brain doctors Leigh Hochberg and Sydney Cash called the work a “pioneering study.” The two doctors said the technology might one day help people with injuries, strokes or diseases like Lou Gehrig’s. People with such diseases have brains that “prepare messages for delivery, but those messages are trapped,” they wrote.

1. How is the new method different from the current ones?

A．It involves a patient’s brain waves.

B．It can pick up a patient’s eye movements.

C．It is a very limited replacement for speech.

D．It can help a patient regain his speech ability.

2. What does the underlined word “differentiate” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Organize.

B．Learn.

C．Distinguish.

D．Speak.

3. What was Leigh Hochberg and Sydney Cash’s attitude towards the study?

A．Positive.

B．Negative.

C．Doubtful.

D．Critical.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Researchers Found Good Methods to Help Paralyzed Patients

B．Device Uses Brain Waves of Paralyzed Man to Help Him Communicate

C．Years of Additional Work Needed to Improve the Communication Methods

D．Device Uses Brain Waves of Paralyzed Man to Cure His Speaking Disability

【推荐2】Science fiction has long entertained the idea of artificial intelligence becoming conscious (有意识的). Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but the pace of AI evolution (发展) has got them considering: how would we know if they were?

To answer this, a group of 19 neuroscientists (神经系统科学家), philosophers and computer scientists have come up with a checklist of standards that, if met, would indicate whether a system has a high chance of being conscious. The authors made the effort because “it seemed like there was a real lack of detailed, thoughtful discussion of AI consciousness,” says co-author Robert Long, a philosopher at the Center for AI Safety.

The team says that a failure to identify whether an AI system has become conscious has important moral implications. If something has been labelled “conscious”, according to co-author Megan Peters, a neuroscientist at the University of California, “that changes a lot about how we as human beings feel that entity (独立存在的个体) should be treated”. Long adds that, as far as he can tell, not enough effort has been made by the companies building advanced AI systems to evaluate the models for consciousness and make plans for what to do if that happens.

One of the challenges in studying consciousness in AI is defining what it means to be conscious. Peters says that for the report, the researchers focused on “phenomenal consciousness”.

Many neuroscience-based theories describe the biological basis of consciousness. But there is no agreement on which is the right one. To create their framework, the authors therefore used a range of these theories. The idea is that if an AI system functions in a way that matches aspects of many of these theories, then there is a greater likelihood that it is conscious.

They argue that this is a better approach to assessing consciousness than simply putting a system through a behavioural test — say, asking ChatGPT whether it is conscious, or challenging it and seeing how it responds. That’s because AI systems have become remarkably good at mimicking (模仿) humans.

1. What does Robert Long say about present research on AI consciousness?

A．It is far from enough.

B．It is progressing rapidly.

C．It has shown promising insights into it.

D．It has learnt a lot from previous research.

2. What would change if AI systems became conscious according to Megan Peters?

A．Their final applications.

B．How humans treat them.

C．Their moral responsibilities.

D．How humans make future; plans.

3. What is a challenge of studying AI consciousness?

A．Providing a definition of it.

B．Uncovering the reason behind it.

C．Measuring AI’s ability to mimic humans.

D．Comparing AI consciousness and human consciousness.

4. How do the researchers identify whether an AI system is conscious?

A．By observing its responses to digital signals and online questions.

B．By checking its understanding of some neuroscience-based theories.

C．By comparing its functional patterns with neuroscience-based theories.

D．By conducting experiments and tests to measure its level of self-awareness.

【推荐1】FORT WORTH, Texas — If 14-year-old Ruhani Ahluwalia had her way, her days would be filled with time to let her curiosity run free. How can a doctor attack cancer with medicines that don’t damage the patient? How can an artist touch a person with a hidden message in an oil painting? This is Ruhani’s world — where the pursuit of learning leads to more learning for a self-described Renaissance teenager, who is multi-talented and has interests.

Since age 11, she has been working summers in a lab at the University of North Texas Health Science Center researching cancer cells. She is testing drugs that can kill cancer cells while limiting the side effects on healthy cells. It’s a special mission guided by the heart because she lost a great aunt to leukemia (白血病) when she was in the sixth grade.

“What really damaged her eventually was the treatment and the side effects of it, which kills both cancer and normal cells.” Ruhani explained. Due to this, Ruhani started her cancer research. “I wanted to find a better way to target cancer cells.”

During the summer between sixth and seventh grade, Ruhani began research in the study of cancer with the help of her mother, Parmeet Jodhka, a microbiology professor, who taught her daughter the necessary biology. Working from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lab, she has finally presented her findings at multiple science fairs. Her list of accomplishments is five pages long and includes placing third in Brazil’s science fair, MOSTRATEC, for her breast cancer research.

“I like learning,” she said, “There is a difference between learning and studying. Studying, you are too stuck in finishing it and in turning it in. Learning, you are doing more for yourself.”

1. What is Ruhani’s research aimed at?

A．Testing how the cancer cells work.

B．Saving her great aunt from leukemia.

C．Relieving the pain of cancerous persons.

D．Protecting healthy cells in cancer treatment.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Rouhani’s summer vacation.	B．Participants at the science fairs.
C．Lessons taught by Parmeet Jodhka.	D．The tireless efforts on the research.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?.

A．Learning is the eye of the mind for all.

B．Learning is more difficult than studying.

C．Learning is too much of a burden to bear.

D．Learning is a means of self-improvement.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．A Girl’s Lasting Pursuit of Learning	B．New Birth of a Young Professor
C．Success of a Well-rounded Teenager	D．Stimulation of Students’ Curiosity

【推荐2】An unmanned Chinese spacecraft left the earth on a trip to the planet Mars on Thursday. The launch （发射）marks the start of one of China's most important space explorations. China's national space agency launched the spacecraft called Tianwen-1 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center on Hainan Island.

The name Tianwen means “Questions to Heaven” in Chinese. The spacecraft took off on China's largest carrier rocket, the Long March 5, and about 36 minutes later, the spacecraft, including an orbiter（轨道飞行器）and a rover（漫游车），was sent into the Earth-Mars orbit. It is expected to reach the orbit of the red planet next February. Tianwen-1 will finish three scientific goals—orbiting the red planet, landing on the Mars and sending a rover to the landing site.

Tianwen-1 carries several scientific instruments to observe the planet's atmosphere and surface. It will do a series of scientific researches on the planet's soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water. Besides its daily work of exploring the surface of Mars for 90 days, it will also report back to the earth about its experiences on the red planet, which is millions of miles away. According to experts, discovering signs of life will be its first and most important scientific goal.

Tianwen-1's successful landing will make China the second nation to place a spacecraft on Mars. The United States has landed eight vehicles on Mars since 1976. China will be the first to successfully orbit, land and place a vehicle in the same mission. This is China's first independent mission to Mars. The task in 2011 failed when a Russian rocket carrying a Chinese orbiter had problems after launch, and was unable to escape the Earth orbit. Last year, China's Chang e-4 spacecraft became the first to make a landing on the far side of the moon.

1. When will Tianwen-1 enter the orbit of Mars?

A．36 minutes later.	B．Next Thursday.
C．In 90 days.	D．Next February.

2. What is the main task of Tianwen-1 according to experts?

A．Orbiting the Mars.	B．Landing on the Mars.
C．Discovering signs of life.	D．Sending a rover to the landing site.

3. Which of the following statements is mentioned in the text?

A．Tianwen-1 is the second vehicle landed on the Mars.

B．The United States is the first to land vehicles on the Mars.

C．Russia helped China place Tianwen-1 on the Mars.

D．Chang，e-4 was the first to make a landing on the moon.

4. Where can you find this article?

A．In a newspaper.	B．In a diary.
C．In a sci-fi novel.	D．In a guide book.

【推荐3】The Canadian group Quebec Maple Syrup (枫糖浆) Producers recently announced it was releasing about 50 million pounds from its strategic maple syrup reserves (储备). That’s almost half of the storage.

The government-supported organization, which is often called the OPEC of maple syrup, uses its reserves to control syrup prices and supply. Quebec produces nearly 70% of the world’s maple syrup, with the US being its biggest customer. The strategic reserve was created to store maple syrup during bad harvest seasons or when demand spikes. “This system prevents practically maple syrup shortages and ensures the market supply is reliable,” spokesperson Helene Normandin said. “This year producers weren’t able to keep up with worldwide demand, which jumped 21%. That’s why the reserve is made. We won’t lack maple syrup.”

Maple syrup is made from maple trees. Maple trees need warm daytime and freezing nighttime temperatures to produce syrup. A warmer and shorter spring this year led to a poorer harvest than usual. Another factor is worldwide demand for maple syrup. This has increased by more than 20% this year. One major reason for this rise is the COVID-19 outbreak. More people are at home, cooking pancakes. “It is possible that more of us have developed a sweet tooth,” said Helene. “The COVID-19 outbreak helped our case because we’re seeing people cook more at home and use more local products. It’s not just in Quebec where the demand is increasing.”

While it’s hard to predict what next year’s crop will look like, Normandin said they were already planning for the future. “We will plan 7 million more maple trees in the near future to make sure here will be no maple syrup shortage,” she said.

This is not the first time Quebec’s maple syrup reserve has made headlines. In 2012, more than 3,000 tons of maple syrup were stole from the reserve over the course of months. The value was estimated at nearly $19 million Canadian dollars.

1. Why did Canada release is strategic maple syrup reserves?

A．To make more money.

B．To cut down its storage.

C．To make room for new storage.

D．To meet the growing market.

2. What does the underlined word “spikes” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Rises quickly.	B．Stays the same.
C．Changes suddenly.	D．Drops gradually.

3. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．How maple syrup is produced.

B．Why maple syrup is in short supply.

C．What leads to people’s developing a sweet tooth.

D．Where the demand for maple syrup is increasing.

4. What resulted in maple syrup shortage in 2012?

A．The warmer and shorter spring.

B．Many maple trees being cut down.

C．Lots of maple syrup being lost.

D．More people cooking pancakes at home.

【推荐1】I’m used to seeing small leaps in technological progress, but occasionally, there are things that will still shock me. At the end of last year, a company called Open AI released a truly jaw-dropping demonstration of a new AI technology that feels almost like technology has skipped ahead by a few generations.

This new AI technology is called ChatGPT, a computer program that can understand and respond to human language. It is trained on a lot of text, so it can understand what people are saying and respond in a way that sounds like a real person. What’s even more amazing is that ChatGPT seems frighteningly human in its ability to understand questions and answer them competently. “Write a story about Leonardo da Vinci in the style of Roald Dahl,” you can ask it, and it’ll spin up a pretty good children’s story.

One area where I’ve found ChatGPT to be enormously useful is its ability to write computer code. This has particularly amazed me as unlike the English language, when you write code it has to be very precise (精确的) and carefully structured — but when I asked it to write me a program that would put some data into a database for me, in a particularly complex way, within seconds it generated something that would have taken me hours to do manually (人工地). ChatGPT isn’t completely human, however. For example, it sometimes generates things that sound true, but are actually just nonsense. This is because of the way the AI learns through pattern recognition. There’s no real intelligence operating there — it is just repeating something based on what it has “read” before. ChatGPT is better at some tasks than others: it can write a brilliant invitation email, but its ability to rhyme leaves a lot to be desired.

And this is why I’m pretty convinced that ChatGPT is going to change the world, sooner rather than later. It’s already hugely impressive, but what exists at the moment is just a demonstration. Once the same AI is built into other apps and can connect to the live internet to learn more, it will become even more advanced. Our computers will no longer be just our word processors, but our writing partners too.

1. Which aspect about ChatGPT especially amazed the author?

A．Its structure.

B．Its variety.

C．Its efficiency.

D．Its correction.

2. What can we learn about ChatGPT from the Paragraph 3?

A．ChatGPT has some limitations.

B．There’s no real intelligence in the world.

C．ChatGPT is better than other chatbot AI.

D．AI cannot think the same way as humans do.

3. What is the author’s attitude toward ChatGPT?

A．Worried.

B．Doubtful.

C．Optimistic.

D．Unconcerned.

【推荐2】This story is part of Nature’s 10, an annual list produced by the world’s leading science journal Nature, exploring individuals who contributed to the key developments in science. On the 2023 list published, the journal included a non-human entity — ChatGPT, for the first time.

ChatGPT and related software can help to brainstorm ideas, enhance scientific search engines and identify research gaps in the literature, says Marinka Zitnik, who works on AI for medical research at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Models trained in similar ways on scientific data could help to build AI systems that can guide research, perhaps by designing new molecules or simulating cell behaviour, Zitnik adds.

But why include a computer program in a list of people who have shaped science in 2023? ChatGPT is not a person. But actually, it and other generative artificial-intelligence (AI) programs are changing how scientists work. They have also rekindled debates about the limits of AI, the nature of human intelligence and how best to regulate the interaction between the two. That’s why this year’s Nature’s 10 has a non-human addition.

Interestingly, Nature’s list also includes one of its creators. Ilya Sutskever, the chief scientist and cofounder of OpenAI, the organization that created ChatGPT, is one of the minds at the forefront of generative artificial intelligence. He saw this company as an opportunity to develop general artificial intelligence that could outperform humans and develop its own consciousness.

Sutskever believes that artificial intelligence’s potential is too great for models to be available to anyone who wants to use them, and he was among the first to realize that the systems that scientists like his mentor, Geoffrey Hinton, had begun to develop would begin to show their actual capabilities as computing power increased. In recent months, he devoted his efforts toward creating a method to direct and control artificial intelligence systems that are more intelligent than humans.

1. Which of the following is true about Nature’s 10 according to the passage?

A．Nature’s 10 is celebrating the development of science technology.

B．Only human beings were elected as Nature’s 10 before.

C．Nature’s 10 was started in 2023 for the first time.

D．It was awarded by the local government yearly.

2. What is the second paragraph about?

A．Experts’ opinions on ChatGPT.

B．How ChatGPT functions.

C．The application of ChatGPT in science research.

D．The promotion of ChatGPT.

3. What does the underlined word rekindled in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Settled.

B．Restarted.

C．Participated.

D．Launched.

4. Which of the following can best describe Ilya Sutskever’s attitude towards ChatGPT?

A．Confident and cautious.	B．Proud and concerned.
C．Objective and doubtful.	D．Enthusiastic and warning.

【推荐3】Robots have always imitated (模仿) life. Social androids powered by artificial intelligence have now reached a level where they may be ready to wok in shops, airports, and care hones. But an entirely new class of robots is being developed that can grow, evolve, and even reproduce.

Growth is a new frontier in robotics. Stanford University’s root robot is a plastic tubular (管状的) robot that grows by unfolding from the inside as air is pumped into it. The soft body can move over rough or sticky surfaces, grow to 100 times its original length, and squeeze through gaps one-quarter of its size. Root robots can twist and turn in any direction to move through tight spaces. Its designers say the robot could be used to detect people and deliver equipment inside collapsed buildings.

Reproduction and evolution were actually used in an earlier experiment in 2015. European scientists built a computerized “mother” robotic am that assembled smaller robots. Each generation that the system built became progressively better at moving. Baby robots were glued together by the mother robot in different ways, so they could move further than the generation before.

It was a major milestone in robot learning and was used as inspiration for robotic evolution projects at the UK York Robotics Laboratory, Robot bodies there are 3D printed and then fitted, using a computerized arm, with sensors and other components. Designs are tested in a mock-up (实物模型) of a nuclear reactor, where robots must clear radioactive waste. Each robot is scored on its success at the task, and the computer then chooses which robots are allowed to reproduce. What form that robot life takes depends entirely on its success.

Researchers say their system could operate entirely by itself. But future evolutionary robot systems would likely need a kill switch to stop the system from running out of control and harming humans or the environment.

1. What is the feature of the root robot?

A．Flexible.

B．Rough.

C．Sticky.

D．Tight.

2. Which robots are entitled to reproduction?

A．The ones clearing waste.	B．The ones printed by a computer.
C．The ones fitted with sensors.	D．The ones performing well at the task.

3. Why is a kill switch needed for future evolutionary robot systems?

A．For test.

B．For environment.

C．For safety.

D．For replacement.

4. What is probably the best title for the text?

A．Future Androids Change Human’s Life

B．Robots Reproduce to Meet Human’s Demand

C．New Androids are Widely Used in Different Areas

D．Robots Imitate Life to Create Better Versions of Themselves