Could you imagine cars driving without human drivers? Recently, China has made a big step toward self-driving technology. This August, more and more driverless taxis run on roads in many big cities in China.
Why do we develop self-driving cars? Self-driving cars give us many benefits. They use computers to sense the things around them and make better use of space. This means fewer traffic jams and better parking of cars. Many people cannot drive for various reasons, including age, disability, or lack of experience. Now, they can get around more easily. Driving becomes more convenient.
According to a research, each year, over 1.3 million people die in car accidents around the world, and many more get hurt. Self-driving cars can reduce (减少) road accidents by 90% and save a lot of money. The main cause of car accidents is human mistakes. By using computers, self-driving cars don’t make poor decisions or lose attention like humans do. They can improve driving safety.
But self-driving cars aren’t perfect. If something unexpected on the road happens, self-driving cars can’t react (反应) as fast as a human driver can. Also, during weather events like heavy snow, it will be difficult for self-driving cars to see the lines on the road. It might lead to an accident. The computer system in the car can also get hacked (非法入侵) by someone, causing it to crash.
It’s clear that there is a lot of work to do to make self-driving cars a common and safe sight on our roads. And China is taking the lead in making this happen.
1. Which of the following is a benefit of self-driving cars according to the passage?| A．They don’t need parking space. | B．They can teach people how to drive. |
| C．They allow disabled people to travel more easily. | D．They cost less money to make and repair. |
| A．Because they can correct human mistakes while driving. |
| B．Because their computers can predict all road accidents. |
| C．Because computers do not have attention problems. |
| D．Because they can see clearly even in bad weathers. |
| A．The weaknesses of self-driving cars. | B．The benefits of having a human driver. |
| C．How road accidents usually happen. | D．How the computers in self-driving cars work. |
| A．Many countries are working together to develop self-driving cars. |
| B．Self-driving cars need clean and safe roads to run. |
| C．We can already see self-driving cars everywhere in China. |
| D．China is trying to make self-driving cars safer and more common. |
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【推荐1】Every early morning in Southwest China’s Chongqing, there is a common scene (场景，情景) at the city’s Subway Line 4: a group of farmers shouldering vegetables for sale are busy riding on the subway to the city center.
The second part of the subway line connects Shichuan town to the city center. It has provided local farmers near the town with a wider channel (渠道，手段) for selling their produce since its opening in 2022.
The vegetables grown by the farmers, which used to be sold at low prices in the town, can now be sold at higher prices in the city.
Every morning around 6 o’clock, the entrance and exit of the Shichuan Town station of the line are crowded with special passengers. They carry baskets filled with fresh vegetables on their backs.
To make it easier for the farmers, the station which was supposed to open at 6:15, now opens five minutes earlier every day. The workers at the station also help as much as possible: helping with the baskets, guiding them to enter the station quickly and orderly and so on.
There’s also an elderly couple in their 80s, who take the subway to sell vegetables. In Chongqing, people over the age of 65 can use the subway for free. The opening of this subway line not only saves money for the elderly but also time.
According to Feng, the husband of the elderly couple, it took him more than one hour to reach the city before as he had to take several buses. Now, by taking the subway, they can get there in less than 30 minutes without any trouble. And they can sell all their vegetables in less than three hours after arriving at the market. Some netizens (网民) say the subway passengers should be prohibited (被禁止) from carrying large items (物品) such as vegetable baskets during peak hours in the mornings and evenings, as this could cause inconvenience to other passengers and potentially damage (损坏) public transportation facilities (设施).
Chongqing Rail Transit responds that passengers can carry items on the subway as long as the sum of the length, width, and height does not exceed (超过) 2 meters and the weight does not exceed 20 kilograms. If passengers find that the vegetables brought onto the trains by the farmers emit odors (散发臭味) or liquids (液体) that soil the carriage (弄脏车箱), they can report this to the subway stations, and the staff members would handle (处理) the situation promptly (立即).
1. How does the second part of Subway Line 4 help local farmers?| A．It stops them from selling the produce at the subway station. |
| B．It allows them to sell the produce at the subway station. |
| C．It helps them sell the produce at higher prices in the city more quickly. |
| D．It allows them to carry any item on the subway. |
| A．They just help with the baskets. |
| B．They only guide them to enter the station quickly and orderly. |
| C．They help to sell the vegetables at the station. |
| D．They help with the baskets, guide them to enter the station quickly and orderly and so on. |
| A．This may cause inconvenience to other passengers. |
| B．This may potentially damage (损坏) public transportation facilities (设施). |
| C．The vegetables brought onto the trains may emit odors or liquids that soil the carriage. |
| D．The farmers are too old to carry the large items. |
| A．In a science magazine. | B．In a travel guide. |
| C．In a storybook. | D．In a newspaper. |
【推荐2】The world’s largest electric cruise ship (游轮), the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 (“长江三峡1”号), made its first journey on March 29, 2022, in Yichang, Hubei Province. The ship is 100 metres long and 16.3 metres wide. It can carry 1,300 passengers. It can travel 100 kilometres on a single charge of its battery. That’s the same as 530 tons of diesel fuel (柴油). This can reduce carbon emissions (碳排放物) by 1,660 tons each year, according to China Daily.
Zhang Xingliao, general manager of China Yangtze Power, said the ship makes zero pollution and zero emission, as it is powered by clean electricity from the Three Gorges Dam.
The ship also makes low noise and low shaking, compared with the high noise and strong shaking common in ships powered by diesel engines. The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 can sail more smoothly and passengers will feel more comfortable.
Cheng Lu, a passenger from Wuhan, said the ship sailed very smoothly and she couldn’t feel it moving.
“ ▲ , but it was my first time to ride on such a big electric ship. It felt almost like moving on smooth ground,” she said.
Chen Guohai, 46, captain of the ship, said that controlling the electric ship felt different, as its operation is much easier and all systems are controlled by computers. “Before, I used my own experience to check if any equipment went wrong. Now it is all controlled by computers,” he said.
1. How long is the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1?| A．16.3 metres. | B．100 metres. |
| C．530 metres. | D．1,300 metres. |
| A．the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 is the largest |
| B．the Yangtze River Three Gorges 1 costs most |
| C．the Three Gorges Dam is the largest dam in China |
| D．the Three Gorges Dam can provide enough electricity |
| A．It was reported that the ship is the fastest |
| B．It was the most wonderful trip in my life |
| C．It was not my first time to take an electric boat |
| D．It took me the longest time to have a journey |
①It makes no pollution. ②It uses much diesel fuel.
③It moves very smoothly. ④It can be operated easily.
| A．①③④ | B．②③④ | C．①②③ | D．①②④ |
| A．The world’s largest electric cruise ship |
| B．The Three Gorges Dam of China |
| C．The most unforgettable trip by ship |
| D．Computers and the electric ship |
1. Some people like to____ to work because they live near their work places.
| A．ride bikes | B．on foot | C．walk |
| A．it’s cheap |
| B．it’s easy |
| C．it’s good for their health |
| A．walk | B．ride bikes | C．drive |
| A．Because it’s funny. |
| B．Because water is around their houses. |
| C．Because they don’t have cars. |
| A．by boat | B．by plane | C．by bike |
【推荐1】Look! Here comes a bus. I t looks like a panda with .black ears and big eyes. It can carry (载) 22 people and is about 12 meters long.
People in some cities, such as Changzhou in Jiangsu, Jinan in Shandong and Deyang in Sichuan, can take the bus.
选择恰当选项补全短文。
| A．There are also robots on the bus. |
| B．People call it Smart Panda Bus. |
| C．You can buy snacks and drinks on the bus. |
| D．Do you want to take the bus? |
| E．The bus doesn’t need a driver. |
【推荐2】What will the future be like? Will robots think like humans? Will computers become smarter than us? Probably no. But here are some things that scientists say that are happening or will happen in 10—30 years from now on, according to the BBC.
Self-driving Cars
There are some machines on the car. They can make the car follow the rules of the road and keep a safe space from other cars. This would make the road safer. You can even take a short rest when the car drives itself. In the future, self-driving cars would be used by many people.
Digital (数字的) Money
Now we can use Wechat Pay or Alipay (支付宝) to shop. That means we are already using digital money. People only need to take a phone wherever they go. Using these ways is much easier than looking for money in our pockets. However, some people don’t like using it. They think it is not safe enough. In fact, it is not true at all.
Virtual (虚拟的) friends
A life-size replica (复制) of your best friend. It will be possible to chat to a life-sized hologram (原样录像) of friends. A projector (投影仪) will create a picture of your friend sitting next to you. It will be just like they are there, but you can’t touch them.
Who says we never know what will happen in the future? Although we may not know, we can be the people who make our own future!
1. What can make the car follow the rules of the road in self-driving cars?| A．Some things. | B．Some machines. | C．The traffic rules. | D．The other cars. |
| A．They look the same as your real friends. | B．You can see your virtual friends. |
| C．They can sit near you and talk to you. | D．You can touch your virtual friends. |
| A．Unlucky. | B．Serious. | C．Hopeful. | D．Worried. |
【推荐3】Imagine that in a future classroom a girl sits down for a test. Her exam paper is made by an artificial intelligence (AI)（人工智能）model based on her own learning. When she finishes her paper, she hands her paper to her teacher, who uses another AI model to grade the paper. Based on the result, a new learning plan is made for the student according to her strengths and weaknesses. This is personalized（个性化的）education at its best.
Could this be the future of AI in education? It is certainly possible. With the development of high technology, the dream about the AI classroom will come true even faster than we expected. However, it also puts a question: How can AI help students improve their schoolwork?
AI can use historical information to create personalized learning plans according to students’ performances. The plans allow students to learn at their own speed and in their own way.
AI can easily catch expressions on students’ faces. When students get into trouble, AI models can make a mark. Even before they start to show signs of trouble, AI models can make correct predictions. At the same time, AI models can provide methods of solving problems and improving learning plans quickly.
What’s more, AI can create the special program for those who have difficulty in learning. One example of a company developing AI to improve the learning experience is Nuance. It created Dragon Speech Recognition technology. With the support of voice recognition（识别）, AI allows students to complete tasks only by speaking. This offers a chance to those who have difficulty in writing.
The role of AI in education will become more and more important. In the near future, we will see an AI classroom. It can not only create personalized learning plans but also use technology to predict results. Education will be personalized to a student’s advantage, bringing a more enjoyable learning experience for all students.
1. The purpose of Paragraph 1 is to ________.| A．increase students’ worry about tests | B．explain why learning plans are necessary |
| C．introduce personalized education to readers | D．show students how meaningful the AI model is |
| A．make good use of learning plans | B．describe different kinds of expressions |
| C．mark and predict trouble by expressions | D．keep students away from the possible problems |
| A．AI can improve students’ writing skills | B．AI can offer the service to special students |
| C．students can easily complete tasks with AI | D．voice recognition makes a difference to education |
| A．The role of AI in education | B．The influence of AI models |
| C．The AI classroom in the future | D．Many different kinds of AI models |
【推荐1】Bananas are the perfect snack. Not only are they sweet and delicious but they are easy to carry around, so you can take them anywhere. Best of all bananas provide different things that the human body needs!
Bananas grow best in warm places that get lots of rain. They grow on plants that look like trees. The banana plant, however, is considered a herb (灌木) rather than a tree because it doesn’t have a strong, woody stem (干，茎). The plants can grow as high as 30 feet. When they reach their full height, flowers grow out from the stem. These flowers produce bananas.
Two or three times each year, the plants produce fruit. The bananas grow together, which seem like “hands”. A hand is made up of 10 to 20 bananas. Growers sometimes call bananas “fingers”. Each bunch (丛) of bananas has about 15 hands, and so a whole bunch may have as many as 200 bananas and can weigh more than 100 pounds.
After about three months, the bananas are ready to be picked. At this point, they still aren’t the sunny yellow color of bananas. Farmers pick them when they’re green. That’s how they’re shipped to stores. They turn yellow along the way and are ready to be sold.
If you love bananas, you’ve got a lot of company. Americans have been enjoying bananas since the first shipment arrived in the United States in 1876. Today, Americans eat more bananas than any other fruit. More bananas are sold than apples and grapes together. Each year, every American eats 16.5 pounds of apples, 7.6 pounds of grapes, 11.6 pounds of oranges. Do you know how many bananas? It’s over 26 pounds of bananas each year!
1. According to the Paragraph 2, bananas grow best in ________.| A．a warm place with much rain | B．a dry and hot place |
| C．a cool place with little rain | D．a cool and windy place |
| A．once or twice a year | B．two or three times a year |
| C．only once a year | D．three or four times a year |
| A．Because they are always green. | B．Because people like green bananas. |
| C．Because it’s convenient to ship. | D．Because yellow bananas aren’t delicious. |
| A．The banana plant isn’t a kind of tree. | B．One bunch of bananas may have 100 hands. |
| C．Many people like bananas because they’re delicious. | D．Banana plants can’t grow as high as 300 feet. |
| A．Oranges are the most popular in the US. | B．People around the world like bananas best. |
| C．Apples are more expensive today. | D．Americans like bananas best of all fruits. |
【推荐2】Everyone knows that good sleep is important for our health. Not everyone knows how important it is to sleep in the dark. A new report says sleeping with a light on could be bad for our health and turning off the lights when we sleep could help to keep away from diabetes (糖尿病) and heart disease.
According to the report, around 40 percent of people sleep with some sort of artificial light such as light from a television or an alarm clock, which could influence our health. The worst thing to sleep with is a main light. Sleeping in the dark is more difficult for people who live in cities, where there is a lot of outdoor light at night.
Dr. Phyllis Zee is the lead researcher from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, the USA. Her team studied 20 participants (参与者). They recorded their brainwaves, breathing, heart rates and also drew blood from them to measure melatonin (褪黑激素) levels while they were sleeping.
They found that the participants who slept with a light on had higher blood sugar (血糖) levels the next morning compared to those who slept in total darkness. Dr. Zee said this is because light makes their brain more active, which raises blood sugar levels. Besides, having the light on when the participants were sleeping made their heart rates increase, which in turn made it harder for their body to rest properly. “That’s bad. Usually, your heart rate is lower at night and higher during the day,” the researcher said.
Dr. Zee said, “Make sure that you start dimming your lights at least an hour or two before you go to bed to prepare your environment for sleep. There are three things we can do to reduce the risk of illness: turn off the lights, never sleep with white or blue light, and use a curtain or wear an eye mask.”
1. What does the underlined word “artificial” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Man-made. | B．Natural. | C．Bright. | D．Strange. |
| A．They have more pressure. |
| B．They usually work till midnight. |
| C．They enjoy a colorful night life. |
| D．They can’t escape from outdoor light. |
| A．Lowering the heart rate. | B．Raising blood sugar levels. |
| C．Helping the body rest well. | D．Making the brain less active. |
| A．A storybook. | B．A news report. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A health magazine. |
【推荐3】As a Chinese middle school student, everyone has different feelings about middle school life. How is it to be an American middle school student?
A few American middle schools came to Beijing several months ago. They wanted to enrol (招生) some students to go to America. They held a big enrollment meeting. There were a lot of parents and children at the meeting. They were very interested in studying in America. A 12-year-old boy said, “I hear activities after school in America are very rich, so I want to open my eyes there.”
In America, kids can choose the school they like. Most middle schools are two years. And most high schools are four years. One school year needs about 40000 dollars for a Chinese student. It’s still a lot for most Chinese families.
1. Many American middle schools came to Beijing not long ago.| A．Right | B．Wrong |
| A．Right | B．Wrong |
| A．Right | B．Wrong |
| A．Right | B．Wrong |
| A．Right | B．Wrong |
