Artificial intelligence is set to benefit mankind in many ways. It will make everyday tasks easier and bring efficiency to various industries. It might just prove to be one of man’s greatest inventions. And yet, like any other technology, AI will also bring risks and dangers. When people mention that AI could be dangerous, most people think of scenarios from movies or books where an AI program decides to eliminate or conquer all humans.
In February 2018, a group of AI experts got together to discuss the potential misuse of AI. Their main concern was that criminals could use AI for a variety of evil purposes. Someone can use AI to create websites that could be used to steal people’s personal information. Another potential risk is faster hacking—AI programs could be taught to find loopholes in software and break into secure computer systems. Some of the risks were as dramatic as the ones we see in books and movies. For example, the experts mentioned automated terrorism (自动化的恐怖主义) by using drones or unmanned vehicles as weapons. Remote attacks using such devices could be made easier through the use of AI.
And finally, there were some concerns on the fact that AI can mimic voices as well. Last year US filmmaker Jordan Peele teamed up with BuzzFeed website to make a movie using AI techniques to copy former US president Barack Obama’s voice. They “had” him voice his opinions on the 2017 movie Black Panther and current US President Donald Trump. While in China, tech giant Baidu, has also developed a program called Deep Voice that can “copy” anyone’s voice by analyzing a 3.7-second audio sample.
Famous British physicist Stephen Hawking even thought AI could be the worst event in the history of our civilization. “Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off and redesign itself at an alarming rate. Humans couldn’t compete and would be superseded, he told the BBC. However, Hawking suggested “I believe we can create AI for the good of the world. We simply need to be aware of the dangers, identify them, employ the best possible practice and management, and prepare for its consequences well in advance.”
Actually, AI technology is making great progress in terms of the three-stage development of artificial intelligence. It is unlikely that fully developing AI would make it hard for mankind to survive. After all, without human intelligence, AI cannot even develop itself, let alone replace human civilization.
1. According to the text, which of the following is NOT the risk brought by AI?| A．AI can be used to create websites to steal people’s personal information. |
| B．AI can help criminals to break into secure computer systems without permission. |
| C．AI can be used by terrorists to carry out terrorist attacks. |
| D．AI can be used to clone humans. |
| A．imitate | B．disturb |
| C．record | D．change |
| A．AI is the best invention in the history of our civilization. |
| B．AI is not as intelligent and creative as humans. |
| C．AI can identify the dangers in advance. |
| D．AI will benefit the world if under careful management. |
| A．Worried. | B．Indifferent. |
| C．Positive. | D．Negative. |
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【推荐1】On Jan. 9, 2007, 10 years ago today, Steve Jobs formally announced Apple’s“revolutionary mobile phone”— a device that combined the functionality of an iPod, phone and Internet communication into a single unit, controlled by touch.
As smartphones have proliferated, so have questions about their impact on how we live and how we work. Often the advantages of convenient, mobile technology are both obvious and taken for granted, leaving more subtle topics for concerned discussion: Are smartphones disturbing children’s sleep? Is an inability to get away from work having a negative impact on health? And what are the implications for privacy?
But today, on the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, let’s consider a less obvious advantage: the potential for smartphone technology to revolutionize behavioral science. That’s because a large proportion of the species is in continuous contact with technology that can record key features of an individual’s behavior and environment.
Researchers have already begun to use smartphones in social scientific research, recording people’s activity using the device’s built-in sensors. These studies are confirming, challenging and extending what’s been found using more traditional approaches, in which people report how they behaved in real life or participate in artificial laboratory-based tasks.
One of the studies has used smartphone-based data collection with a built-in sensor to paint an accurate pictures of how mood is affected by a person’s location. The data came from more than 12,000 members of the general public. Twice during the day, they were prompted(促使)to report their mood and location, with location information additionally collected from the phone’s location sensors. Using both kinds of location data, the study found that people reported significantly more positive moods in locations that typically involve social interactions (such as a café or friend’s house) than at home, and more positive moods at home than at work.
Other studies have used sensor data to draw some kinds of inferences. For instance, a study published in 2015 followed 48 students over the course of a 10-week school term. Using a combination of location, activity and audio sensors, the researchers could infer students’ patterns of class attendance, study time, physical activity and socializing. These variables, in turn, predicted student GPA with surprisingly high accuracy.
These studies are just first steps. With more data and better methods for analysis, researchers will be able to identify how different experiences, behaviors and environments relate to each other and evolve over time more accurately. The right combination of data and analysis can also help individuals identify unique characteristics of their own behavior, including conditions that need some form of treatment.
Smartphone-based data collection comes at an opportune time in the evolution of psychological science. Today, the field is moving away from a focus on laboratory studies with undergraduate participants towards more complex, real-world situations studied with more varieties of groups of people. Smartphones offer new tools for achieving these ambitions, offering rich data about everyday behaviors in a variety of contexts.
So here’s another way in which smartphones might transform the way we live and work: by offering insights into human psychology and behavior and, thus, supporting smarter social science.
1. What does the author say about the negative impact of smartphones?| A．It has been overshadowed by the positive impact. |
| B．It has more often than not been taken for granted. |
| C．It is not so obvious but has caused some concern. |
| D．It is subtle but should by no means be overstated. |
| A．It is based on huge amounts of carefully collected data. |
| B．It makes use of the questionnaire method. |
| C．It is often expensive and time-consuming. |
| D．It relies on lab observations and participants’ reports. |
| A．detect their unusual behaviors. |
| B．maintain a positive state of mind. |
| C．live their lives in a unique way. |
| D．cope with abnormal situations. |
| A．They are going through a period of painful transition. |
| B．They are increasingly focused on real-life situations. |
| C．They are conducted in a more rigorous manner. |
| D．They are mainly targeted towards undergraduates. |
【推荐2】Facebook is widely used in the US, Britain and many other countries. But should children under 13 be allowed to use it? Well, whether children under 13 are allowed to use it or not, many of them are doing that. They use it to find out what shopping center to meet in after school tomorrow and what park to hang out in on Saturday afternoon. Under-13s might not have Facebook accounts, both here and in the US, but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of thousands of them from using dates of birth which are not true to start an account.
Yes, of course parents like me worry that means our kids are at risk of both being bullied (欺凌) and of bullying others. But the important thing to realize here is that bullying takes place in the school lunch hall or on the playground. No one is trying to stop under-13s from those places, right?
Some fear that their children are prey (受害者) for bad people on Facebook. Again, does your kid travel alone or go to a shopping center without you? Most children do from the time they go to high school. And just as you teach them the rules for staying safe when they’re out and alone, you teach them the rules for staying safe online.
Facebook is about what life is about, which is connecting with others. When children are young, we supervise (监管) them. As they get older, we trust them to connect without us around all the time. And what Facebook does is to teach our kids a language that will surely be important to their future, because today’s children are going to be interacting (互动) online with friends, and in the future business partners and customers for the rest of their lives. Why, when we’re trying to educate them in useful skills on other fronts, hold them back on this one?
1. According to the passage, many under-13s have Facebook accounts because they ________.| A．can buy account from others |
| B．are no longer limited to own them |
| C．ask their parents to open accounts for them |
| D．could open accounts using untrue information |
| A．Bullying on Facebook isn’t scary at all. |
| B．Bullying hardly takes place on Facebook. |
| C．Facebook is just one more place that bullying happens. |
| D．Parents cannot stop children from using Facebook. |
| A．kids should be taught online safety rules |
| B．it’s very dangerous for kids to do that |
| C．kids can keep away from dangers themselves |
| D．it’s impossible to keep children away from Facebook |
| A．negative | B．indifferent | C．positive | D．pessimistic |
【推荐3】From the most talked about politicians to the most popular TV shows, the social media platform—Twitter has unveiled what its users have been most fixated (最关注的) with over the past year.
Most tweeted-about TV shows 2019
HBO’s “Game of Thrones” claimed the title of the most tweeted-about TV show of the year, despite many criticizing the series for an anti-climatic finale.
It was followed by streaming giant Netflix‟s “Stranger Things” and long-standing animated sitcom
“The Simpsons”.
Most tweeted-about films 2019
2019 American superhero film “Avengers: Endgame” became the highest-grossing film of all time when it was released earlier this year, grossing nearly $2.8 billion worldwide and its success was reflected on Twitter, making it the platform‟s most-talked about movie of the year. It was followed by “Toy Story 4” and American psychological thriller “Joker”.
Most tweeted-about hashtags 2019
The top news-related hashtags worldwide included NotreDame after France‟s landmark cathedral caught fire, causing irreversible damage to the building which dates back to 856 and is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.
Other popular news hashtags included Brexit, Christ Church and Climate Strike, in line with the biggest stories that have been dominating the global news agenda.
Most tweeted-about politicians 2019
US politicians topped the list for the most tweeted-about politicians worldwide, with President Donald Trump weighing in first. Former US President Obama was next on the list, followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also in the top 10 is US Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC, who made waves on the US political stage this year and is a strong supporter of the Green New Deal. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and French President Emmanuel Macron were also in the top 10.
Most tweeted-about emoji 2019
The social media platform kept track emoji usage as well, finding that the laughing face with tears of joy was the most used, followed by the crying face and heart eyes emoji.
1. Which of the following can be WRONG from Most tweeted-about TV shows 2019 and Most tweeted-about films 2019?| A．No film has earned more money than “Avengers: Endgame” so far. |
| B．When you see “Joker”, there is possibility that you will feel thrilled. |
| C．“Toy Story 4” is second only to “Avengers: Endgame” in popularity. |
| D．“Game of Thrones” enjoys a great success without any criticism. |
| A．topics that people show little interest in |
| B．particular subjects that arouse people‟s attention worldwide |
| C．events that have controversial endings |
| D．subjects that are prohibited from being talked about |
| A．there is no Asian politician on the list of Most tweeted-about politicians 2019 |
| B．crying face is used more frequently than the laughing face with tears |
| C．US politicians are relatively more influential than politicians from other countries in 2019 |
| D．US Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is strongly against the Green New Deal |
【推荐1】Typhoons in the northern part of the world have girls’ names. Sometimes they have very beautiful names. Rose is a pretty name but there was nothing pretty about Typhoon Rose. It was the worst typhoon to hit Hong Kong in more than thirty years.
It began to rain early on the morning of Monday, August 16th, 1971. At ten o'clock in the morning, Typhoon Rose was still 130 miles away but already the wind was blowing people’s umbrellas away. The wind became stronger and stronger. The typhoon shelters (避风港) were soon full of boats. Ships that were too big to go inside the shelters put down more anchors (锚). Some very big ships went out to sea. It is safer for a big ship to be at sea in a typhoon because then it cannot be blown onto rocks. Kai Tak Airport closed. No planes were able to take off or land. At 9:00 in the evening, all lights went out.
No one slept well that night. It is difficult to sleep in such bad weather.
In Typhoon Rose, more than one hundred people died. 229 people were injured and 66 of these had to go to hospital. 1,500 people lost their homes. The people of Hong Kong will no quickly forget Typhoon Rose!
1. Typhoon Rose came to Hong Kong _______ .| A．early in the morning | B．on a summer day |
| C．in the autumn of 1971 | D．on a cold Monday |
| A．shelters were full of boats | B．people in the boats could go home |
| C．it was safer to stay there | D．all lights went out |
| A．66. | B．1,500. | C．229. | D．Over 100. |
| A．Typhoon Rose | B．The Ships in the Typhoon |
| C．The People in the Typhoon | D．The Typhoon Shelters |
【推荐2】Are you an “I person” or an “E person”? These two personality labels in particular are widely discussed online. They are part of a popular personality test called the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI. All of the results have four letters, and there are 16 results in total. “I” and “E” refer to “introverted” and “extroverted”, respectively.
Even if someone is typically quiet, many online discussions suggest that an “I” person can still be outgoing at times. For example, when an introverted person is with a group of introverted friends, they might become more social like an “E” person.
According to psychologists, this idea of temporarily switching personalities is called “masking”. That is hiding your true personality in specific situations. “Human beings want to feel they belong, and they might become people-pleasers to do so,” wrote the Master Class website.
Using the MBTI result to identify and describe someone’s personality seems fun. However, I went too far at one time. My sister was excitedly making a day-to-day travel plan when I remembered from an article that “P people” don’t like to make or stick to plans, so I said to her, “You don’t seem like a ‘P person’.” “Why?” She asked back. “Since when do I need to follow what my personality test tells me to do?” It was then that I realized I’d taken the result too seriously.
The MBTI personality test may show something you don’t know about yourself and can even be a fun ice-breaker question when meeting new friends. And that’s all it is —for fun. On the other hand, knowing someone’s MBTI result doesn’t mean you really know this person. And those four letters of yours don’t define who you are.
1. In which of the following situations an “I” person may perform more sociably?| A．Having a conversation with an “E” person. |
| B．Wanting to feel someone’s sense of belonging. |
| C．Taking the personality test and accepting its result. |
| D．Staying with some friends with similar personalities. |
| A．Pleasing. | B．Escaping. | C．Pretending. | D．Controlling. |
| A．The MBTI result is of great help to identify a person. |
| B．A “P” person is unwilling to make or stick to plans. |
| C．People need to follow the advice of the MBTI test. |
| D．Don’t take the MBTI result too seriously all the time. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Objective. | C．Positwe. | D．Negative. |
【推荐3】Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, GIS and Mapping, Location Technology and autonomous machines are playing a growing role in responding to COVID-19 pandemic.
An important policy for authorities across the globe right now is to prevent the spread of the virus. To ensure it, they are taking unprecedented （空前的） measures to reduce people-to-people contact. Most countries took measures like the closure of non-essential public places, ban of mass gatherings and ensuring a social distancing to limit physical contact.
However, in some areas where individuals are not obeying the restrictions knowingly or unknowingly, or do not know what the latest restrictions are, law enforcing authorities are using drones （无人机） to monitor people' s movement and break up social gatherings that could cause a risk to society. The introduction of drones at this time of crisis is reducing the risk of getting infected to police officials and other staff since it enables them to monitor a vast range of area without physical engagement.
In addition to street monitoring, authorities are also using drones to broadcast messages and information about lockdown measures, especially in rural area that lacks open communication channels for health information. Drones equipped with loudspeakers are used to make public announcements to keep people indoors, take necessary preventive measures, make social-distancing and wear a mask if stepping outside from home.
A Global Times video on Twitter shows a drone flying over a village in Inner Mongolia, warning an old lady with audio in Chinese, “Yes, Grandmother, it’s the drone who is talking to you. You should not go out without wearing a mask. You’d better go home and don' t forget to wash your hands.”
However, the use of drones raises a debate about privacy and individual rights on mainstream media as well as social media platforms.
1. What role do drones play in responding to COVID-19 pandemic?| A．Helping us know how COVID-19 spreads. |
| B．Preventing the spread of the virus. |
| C．Monitoring medical staff and collecting infected cases. |
| D．Monitoring social activities and broadcasting lockdown measures. |
| A．Individuals are breaking the restrictions deliberately. |
| B．Authorities don't know what the latest restrictions are. |
| C．All people' s social gatherings could threaten society. |
| D．Police officials and other staff are at less risk with drones. |
| A．To show drones work well without physical engagement. |
| B．To show drones have positive effects but sometimes scary. |
| C．To show people in rural area are curious about drones. |
| D．To show people in rural area are resistant to drones. |
| A．The great demand for drones. |
| B．Different comments on the use of drones. |
| C．How to update drones. |
| D．How to protect people' s privacy and individual rights. |
【推荐1】It’s time for bed, the lights are out, and yet you’re wide awake. You do eventually manage to fall asleep, but even then, it’s a very shallow, restless sort of sleep.
Now more research suggests you needn’t look further than outside your window and at the moon for the cause of this sleeplessness. However, in a surprising twist, the findings weren’t entirely what the researchers expected. While we know that humans are a species ruled by light, the “lunar phase effect” (月相效应) affects sleep even when artificial sources of light are accounted for.
Rather than people staying up later and sleeping less during the full moon, it was just before the full moon that sleep was shorter and lighter. “It turns out that the nights before the full moon are the ones that have most of the moonlight during the first half of the night,” said Horacio Iglesia, a professor of biology at the University of Washington in The Guardian. The opposite was true just before the new moon — people tended to sleep more and go to bed earlier.
Ninety-eight participants across three Indigenous communities in Argentina wore wrist monitors tracking sleep patterns over the course of one to two months. While one community had no access to electricity, the second community had limited access, and the third community was located in an urban setting with full access to electricity.
The study also found that this lunar phase effect on sleep also appeared to have greater impact on people who had more limited access to electricity. In every community, participants’ peak (高峰) sleepless period occurred in the three to five days leading up to the full moon night, while the opposite was true for the new moon, the study authors found.
Wanting further insight, the researchers compared their data to the results of a similar study of 464 Seattle-based students at the University of Washington. The findings proved consistent.
This research supports the view that try as we may, we can’t ever fully get away from some forces of nature.
1. What makes it hard for people to fall asleep?| A．Visual distance. | B．Faded light. |
| C．Artificial light. | D．Bright moonlight. |
| A．Before the full moon. | B．During the full moon. |
| C．Before the new moon. | D．During the new moon. |
| A．The third community slept least during the new moon. |
| B．Lunar phase effect affected the first community more. |
| C．Peak sleepless period often happened at the same night |
| D．The result of the research differed from previous ones. |
| A．Shallow Sleep Does Harm to Health | B．The Moon Affects Our Sleep Cycles |
| C．People Live in Harmony with Nature | D．Sleep Patterns Differ from Each Other |
【推荐2】When we are born, we are unflawed. As we grow, we develop many complexities due to many influences in our lives. Our brain collects and retains all visual, auditory（听觉的）information from the moment we are born and to the smallest of the details. Apart from our brain having memory, cells in our body, in billions, have their own memory. In other words, our body stores both physiological and psychological memories. We are complex emotional beings in nature compared to any other living animal.
Apparently, physical and psychological memories strongly influence our emotions! Interestingly, we can create, store, and release emotion like energy. Moreover, if we do not process our negative emotions properly and suppressed for a long time, they can find a way out violently and unexpectedly. Unfortunately, we carry our guilt throughout our lives putting ever-increasing burden on our shoulders. We become heavy with guilt and anger for things we could or did not achieve, and for things we cannot have.
Both guilt and anger are useless for us. They give us no advantage. Therefore, one may ask: is there a way to put down the burden from our heavy shoulders? It is possible, indeed. Importantly, since our guilt and anger inside us neither released nor given attention, they are stored. Actually, we should process and address our emotions in order to remove from our system. We cannot just wish them away.
In fact, by acknowledging their presence and providing a channel for them to dissipate, we can dissolve our emotions gradually. Taking drugs and consuming alcohol only worsen situation. They only provide short-term comfort. Is there a better way to unload our burden? Luckily, we have a natural gift to process our feeling and emotions. Forgiveness stands first of all the other natural remedies.
Indeed, there is no better way than forgiving ourselves. Of course, we should also learn to readily forgive others. But when we learn to forgive ourselves, we also naturally forgive others.
In summary, there is no benefit carrying our years of emotional baggage. By forgiving, we can throw away the emotional baggage we carry for years. Forgive your past mistakes. The moment you start forgiving, you feel a lot lighter and years of heaviness lifted magically! To your surprise, you start feeling a lot energetic and optimistic in your daily life.
1. From the first paragraph we know that________.| A．Human beings are born with complexity. |
| B．Our body has the ability to memorize information. |
| C．Our brain can collect and retain all information |
| D．Not all the other living animals have complex emotions like human beings. |
| A．Because human beings are complex emotional beings in nature. |
| B．Because physical and psychological memories strongly influence our emotions. |
| C．Because they keep bad emotions inside for too long and don't deal with them correctly. |
| D．Because our body stores both physiological and psychological memories. |
| A．We should recognize our negative emotion's existence and cope with it. |
| B．Our shoulders are too weak to put up with the burdens. |
| C．Setting a goal beyond our reach may lead to negative emotions. |
| D．It is no use carrying anger and guilt. |
| A．Drink some wine and you may feel relieved. |
| B．Only if you have the wish , there is a way to dissolve your guilt. |
| C．Try to dissipate your anger and guilt, or they will be stored inside. |
| D．Every coin has two sides, which is true for our guilt and anger. |
| A．approaches | B．emotions | C．advantages | D．references |
| A．Learning to forgive can help people unload psychological burden. |
| B．Forgiving is the only way for people to dissolve emotions. |
| C．Forgiving ourselves is the first step of forgiving others、 |
| D．People should be energetic and optimistic. |
【推荐3】Geek Squad Protection
Keep your cell phone working like new with the help of over 20,000 Geek Squad Agents who will get you up and running again if the unexpected happens. You’ll be protected in case of drops, spills, cracks, normal wear and tear, or mechanical failure.
Geek Squad Protection: S8 per month
Geek Squad Protection Plan must be purchased with the product online or in store, or within 15 days by visiting a store. A one-time payment option for two years is also available, which offers a 20% discount.
| Drops, spills and cracks | We’ll replace your device if you accidentally damage it by dropping or spilling on it in the course of normal use. |
| Battery replacement | We’ll replace the battery if it fails to hold a charge. （There is a one-time limit.） |
| Normal wear and tear | We fix failures from dust, internal heat and humidity. |
| Mechanical failure | We’ll offer continual coverage on faults after the manufacturer’s warranty (质保期) ends. |
| Accessories (配件) | Well cover any of the accessories that came with your original phone purchase. |
| Transferable | Anyone you give the covered product to will be able to obtain service under the Protection Plan. No additional charges or restrictions apply. |
Geek Squad Complete Protection: $11 per month
The Geek Squad Complete Protection Plan includes all the above benefits from the standard Geek Squad Protection Plan, plus Loss and Theft coverage. Geek Squad Complete Protection Plan must be purchased with the product in store （not available online）, or within 15 days by visiting a store. A one-time payment option for two years is also available, which offers a 20% discount.
Notice: There is a limit of three claims within 24 months for drops, spills, cracks, mechanical failure, wear, tear or one-time battery replacement. If the claim is for loss or theft, there is a limit of two claims within a rolling 12 months.
1. A 2-year Geek Squad Complete Protection service costs at least ________.| A．$153.6 | B．$192 |
| C．$211.2 | D．$264 |
| A．Both the protection plans can be purchased on line. |
| B．At most 3 claims for loss can be made within 24 months. |
| C．A phone under the plan will be replaced if its battery fails. |
| D．The plan continues when a covered phone gets a new owner. |
| A．http://www.bestbuy.com | B．http://www.newsweek.com |
| C．http://www.science.com | D．http://travelusa.com |
【推荐1】Many of us know about Russia’s Lake Baikal from our textbooks, or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian’s hit song, Lake Baikal. But over the past decade, the world’s deepest freshwater lake has been in the spotlight for an extreme sport.
Each March since 2005, about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon. They come to explore the lake’s breathtaking beauty and challenge themselves in unpredictable conditions.
The 26-mile (41. 84-kilometers) journey starts on the lake’s eastern shore. In March, the ice is a meter thick and iron-hard. Runners cross this frozen surface, finishing on the western side of the lake.
Known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, Lake Baikal has exceptionally clear waters. This means its ice is almost perfectly transparent. “Seen from above, a runner on the ice looks as if he or she is jogging through space,” The New York Times noted.
The landscape might be beautiful, but it’s also harsh. Strong winds blast (侵袭) across the lake and frostbite (冻伤) can occur within half an hour. Runners say the cold climate is what draws them. They want to test their limits.
“When you are in such an environment, you don’t have cars around you, you don’t have the noise around. I think these extreme races allow you to be alone with nature,” Alicja Barahona, a 64-year-old runner from the US, told ABC News.
The location offers some strange and unique characteristics for this marathon. The finish line is visible from the start. But the endless white offers no progress markers. The race also ends with little fanfare (喧闹). Tourists crowding the ice are mostly addicted to snapping series (自拍) and just ignore the runners.
For some runners, the absence of spectators makes the race more challenging, because it’s lonely. They must fight with themselves. “You are alone on Baikal. It is your race. You are alone with yourself. All you need to do is to defeat yourself,” Veronique Messina, a French runner, told the Telegraph.
1. What can we know about the Baikal Ice Marathon from the text?| A．It takes runners from the northern end to the southern end of the lake. |
| B．It involves extreme weather and beautiful scenery. |
| C．It attracts more and more participants each year. |
| D．It is about 26 kilometers in length. |
| A．Only men are allowed to run in this race. |
| B．The runners can see the finish line from the start. |
| C．The runners are often distracted by tourists. |
| D．There are many progress markers on the ice. |
| A．Loneliness. | B．The long distance. |
| C．The cold climate. | D．Noisy surroundings. |
【推荐2】The act of social distancing has become an effective protective measure against the novel coronavirus and a part of everyday life across the world. Many countries have launched different social distancing measures. Some are strict while others are creative. Let’s take a look at three special quarantine (隔离) measures around the world.
Panama
With more than 3,000 confirmed cases by April 12, Panama has announced strict quarantine measures. One of them is to separate people by gender to go out.
Starting in April, males in the country are required to leave home on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday while females can go out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week. No one is allowed to go out on Sundays. To further prevent the spread of COVID-19, citizens are able to leave their homes for only two hours at a time. But according to the Guardian, the restriction measures do not apply to civil servants or her important staff who are battling against the novel coronavirus on the frontline.
Colombia
ID numbers are unique identification tools for individuals, but they may also be used to decide when people can go out in Colombia during the novel coronavirus epidemic. According to the BBC, people in some Colombian towns are allowed to be outside based on the last digit (数字) of their national ID number. For example, in northwest-central Colombia, Barrancabermeja, people with an ID number ending in zero, four or seven are allowed to leave the house on Monday, while those with an ID number ending in one, five or eight can go outside on Tuesday.
France
Though outdoor exercise is a good way to keep healthy, it can sometimes cause too many people to gather in one place. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Paris has forbidden all outdoor exercise between 10 am and 7 pm. Outside of this time span, people are allowed to exercise individually as long as it’s for less than an hour and within one kilometer of their home. If people break the rule, they will face fines of between €135 ( about 1,040 yuan) and €375.
1. What can we learn about Panama’s social distancing measures?| A．All citizens should follow the rules of going out by gender. |
| B．Ordinary citizens can stay outside for at most two hours at a time. |
| C．Civil servants are allowed to go out every day except on Sundays. |
| D．None can go out for dinner, starting in April. |
| A．Females. |
| B．Males. |
| C．Those with an ID number ending in one, five or eight. |
| D．Those with an ID number ending in zero, four or seven. |
| A．Cycling around one’s home at 6 pm. | B．Playing badminton in front of one’s house at noon. |
| C．Playing basketball with friends at 9 pm. | D．Jogging alone near one’s home from 8 am to 8:30 am. |
When I was nine, Lili quitted her job and started her own business. She said she didn’t want to stay at home and work as a housewife: “It’s a waste of life.” Lili became so busy that she spent less and less time with me. She didn’t help me with my schoolwork. It was, in her words, “so that you can develop your independence”. We quarreled because she rarely showed up at parents’ meetings.
Like mother, like daughter. I have many things in common with Lili. I want everything to be under control. I want to be perfect and I don’t expect other people to help me. I push myself hard to achieve my goals.
After I started to go to high school, Lili and I were too busy to communicate much with each other.
In biology class I began to be depressed. When the teacher showed us a picture of a butterfly, I was scared and screamed. I had a vision of thousands of butterflies flying toward me.
That night I told Lili about it. The next morning, I saw that she had red eyes with black circles around them.
She took me to see a therapist (治疗师). Three hours later, the therapist told Lili that my life was like a wheel spinning (旋转) faster and faster and that was the reason for what had happened to me. I only realized it when my body couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. At these words, Lili burst into tears. “It’s all my fault, she’s just a kid and I didn’t have time to take care of her….” To be honest, I had never seen Lili cry before.
After that, Lili began to spend more time at home, cooking and dragging me to do sports. I realized she was the one who would always be there when I was in real trouble. No mom is perfect, but she is the one who really cares about her kid.
1. Lili quitted her job and started her own business because _________.
| A．she wanted to make more money | B．she was not willing to look after me |
| C．she didn’t want to waste her life | D．she likes keeping busy |
| A．she began to spend less and less time with me |
| B．she didn’t help me with my schoolwork. |
| C．she seldom attended the parents’ meetings in my school. |
| D．Lili and I were too busy to communicate much with each other. |
| A．Most women don’t want to be a housewife. |
| B．Most children want their mothers to accompany them at home. |
| C．We need to understand our mothers’ busy life. |
| D．Although mothers are not perfect, they all love the children |
| A．Lili is a quiet, strong-willed woman. |
| B．Lili began to spend more time at home after visiting the therapist. |
| C．I was scared and screamed in biology class because I hate butterflies. |
| D．I only realized my life was like a wheel when my body couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. |
| A．Mom Does Care. | B．A Busy but Successful Mother. |
| C．Change From Mother to Businessman. | D．A Student’s Opinion on Mother. |
