1 . More than anything, this is a book about unconditional love—a bond between a caring woman and a loyal dog. Harley’s Harlequin Heart written by Christy Jaeger and
Harley takes us along on all his
Through surgery, this smart dog
Harley’s
As Jaeger notes, “The book
| A．explained | B．presented | C．designed | D．included |
| A．misfortune | B．unease | C．inconvenience | D．discomfort |
| A．easier | B．safer | C．better | D．richer |
| A．packages | B．dreams | C．burdens | D．adventures |
| A．diagnosed | B．attacked | C．loaded | D．faced |
| A．mysteries | B．problems | C．cures | D．challenges |
| A．forbids | B．hits | C．informs | D．warns |
| A．active | B．inner | C．useful | D．sudden |
| A．pushes through | B．bends down | C．cheers up | D．gets off |
| A．treatment | B．recovery | C．victory | D．entry |
| A．innocently | B．automatically | C．gradually | D．accidentally |
| A．suffer | B．behave | C．perform | D．delay |
| A．grouch | B．circle | C．protection | D．process |
| A．competing | B．battling | C．continuing | D．mixing |
| A．development | B．discovery | C．imagination | D．description |
| A．possess | B．close | C．share | D．print |
| A．typical | B．happy | C．ridiculous | D．sudden |
| A．spreads | B．sends | C．expands | D．devotes |
| A．decisive | B．logical | C．attractive | D．influential |
| A．routine | B．force | C．message | D．image |
2 . Learning a language literally changes your brain
If you’ve ever learned a new language, you know how difficult it can be. Native languages seem almost built-in. We
Learning anything changes your brain, at least a little bit. But learning a language does it with great
Those extra pathways can
A 2012 study found that this remodeling can be significant. After 3 months of intense language study, recruits at the Swedish Armed Forces Interpreter Academy had increases in cortical (皮层的) thickness in areas associated with language
Knowing a second language can also help
If you’re thinking it’s too late, you’re probably wrong. We often think only children can learn languages with ease. It’s true that young children do more quickly learn whatever language they’re
| A．keep | B．join | C．soak | D．fill |
| A．surprised | B．struck | C．impressed | D．burdened |
| A．inter-connected | B．under-estimated | C．hard-wired | D．double-edged |
| A．barely | B．certainly | C．narrowly | D．equally |
| A．force | B．speed | C．passion | D．eagerness |
| A．motivated | B．inspired | C．rearranged | D．protected |
| A．set in stone | B．go into detail | C．come in handy | D．get under way |
| A．designed | B．varied | C．chosen | D．recorded |
| A．efficient | B．healthy | C．complex | D．demanding |
| A．processing | B．barrier | C．development | D．translation |
| A．prolong | B．quantify | C．assess | D．prevent |
| A．evident | B．confusing | C．practical | D．impressive |
| A．committed | B．exposed | C．sensitive | D．accustomed |
| A．loss | B．disadvantage | C．rate | D．minimum |
| A．differentiate | B．instruct | C．immerse | D．convince |
3 . For several decades, there has been an extensive and organized campaign intended to generate distrust in science, funded by those whose interests and ideologies are threatened by the findings of modern science. In response, scientists have tended to stress the success of science. After all, scientists have been right about most things.
Stressing successes isn’t wrong, but for many people it’s not persuasive. An alternative answer to the question “Why trust science?” is that scientists use the so-called scientific method. If you’ve got a high school science textbook lying around, you’ll probably find that answer in it. But what is typically thought to be the scientific method — develop a hypothesis (假设), then design an experiment to test it — isn’t what scientists actually do. Science is dynamic: new methods get invented; old ones get abandoned; and sometimes, scientists can be found doing many different things.
If there is no dependable scientific method, then what is the reason for trust in science? The answer is how those claims are evaluated. The common element in modern science, regardless of the specific field or the particular methods being used, is the strict scrutiny (审查) of claims. It’s this tough, sustained process that works to make sure faulty claims are rejected. A scientific claim is never accepted as true until it has gone through a lengthy “peer review” because the reviewers are experts in the same field who have both the right and the obligation (责任) to find faults.
A key aspect of scientific judgment is that it is done collectively. No claim gets accepted until it has been vetted by dozens, if not hundreds, of heads. In areas that have been contested, like climate science and vaccine safety, it’s thousands. This is why we are generally justified in not worrying too much if a single scientist, even a very famous one, disagrees with the claim. And this is why diversity in science — the more people looking at a claim from different angles — is important.
Does this process ever go wrong? Of course. Scientists are humans. There is always the possibility of revising a claim on the basis of new evidence. Some people argue that we should not trust science because scientists are “always changing their minds”. While examples of truly settled science being overturned are far fewer than is sometimes claimed, they do exist. But the beauty of this scientific process is that it explains what might otherwise appear contradictory: that science produces both novelty and stability. Scientists do change their minds in the face of new evidence, but this is a strength of science, not a weakness.
1. How does the author think of the so-called scientific method?| A．Stable. | B．Persuasive. |
| C．Unreliable. | D．Conclusive. |
| A．Explained. | B．Examined. |
| C．Repeated. | D．Released. |
| A．It is not persuasive to reject those faulty claims. |
| B．Settled science tends to be collectively overturned. |
| C．A leading expert cannot play a decisive role in a scrutiny. |
| D．Diversity in knowledge is the common element in science. |
| A．Put Your Faith in Science | B．Defend the Truth in Science |
| C．Apply Your Mind to Science | D．Explore a Dynamic Way to Science |
4 . Recent research reveals that the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by companies in the US has a disproportionate impact on women. According to a recent analysis, approximately 79% of the jobs lost to AI were held by women. This difference can be due to several factors.
Women are more likely to work in industries that are highly be influenced by automation, such as retail, hospitality, and administrative support. These sectors often involve repetitive tasks that can be easily automated by AI technologies. Consequently, women employed in these industries face a higher risk of job displacement.
Gender biases in AI algorithms (运算法则) can worsen the situation for women. AI systems are trained on historical data, which may reflect existing gender biases in hiring and promotion practices. This can result in biased decision-making during recruitment and performance evaluations, putting women at a disadvantage in the workplace.
The lack of diversity in the development of AI technologies contributes to the gender difference. The underrepresentation (代表名额不足) of women in the field of AI means that their perspectives and experiences are not adequately considered during the design and development process. As a result, AI systems may not fully understand or cater to the needs of women, continuously leading to gender inequalities.
To address these challenges, it is crucial to prioritize diversity and inclusion in the development and deployment of AI technologies. This involves increasing the representation of women in AI-related fields and ensuring diverse perspectives are considered during the design and testing phases. Additionally, companies should actively work towards eliminating gender biases in AI algorithms and regularly assess their impact on different demographic groups.
In conclusion, although men currently dominate the labor market, women bear a disproportionate burden due to the adoption of generative AI. The combination of industry composition, gender biases in algorithms, and lack of diversity in AI development contribute to this disparity. To relieve these effects, it is essential to prioritize diversity and inclusion in AI development and address gender biases in algorithms. Only through these efforts can we ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed equitably among all individuals, regardless of gender.
1. Why are women in the US workforce more influenced by the adoption of generative AI than men?| A．Women are less adaptable to technological changes. |
| B．Women have a lower level of education compared to men. |
| C．Women are generally less skilled in technology and AI-related fields. |
| D．Women are more likely to work in industries that are highly automatable. |
| A．Increasing gender proportion in AI development teams. |
| B．Providing targeted training and programs for women and giving them more chances in AI-related fields. |
| C．Encouraging women to pursue careers in non-automatable industries. |
| D．Offering financial supports to companies that prioritize gender diversity in AI programmes. |
| A．It ensures equal opportunities for women in the workforce. |
| B．It promotes innovation and creativity in AI solutions. |
| C．It reduces the risk of biased algorithms that perpetuate gender inequalities. |
| D．It improves the overall performance and effectiveness of AI systems. |
| A．The impact of AI on job losses in the US. |
| B．The role of women in AI-related fields. |
| C．Gender biases in AI algorithms and their effects on women. |
| D．Solutions to address challenges faced by women due to generative AI. |
5 . The impressive collection of literature in the Library Cave at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Northwest China’s Gansu province,
While the Dunhuang wall paintings have recorded the glories of the past
The value of the
The Library Cave
| A．collects | B．represents | C．finds | D．changes |
| A．aspects | B．difficulties | C．moods | D．hobbies |
| A．Sat | B．Located | C．Lost | D．Moved |
| A．formations | B．productions | C．companies | D．exchanges |
| A．visually | B．vocally | C．slowly | D．brightly |
| A．rooted | B．imagined | C．housed | D．printed |
| A．cultural | B．national | C．historical | D．literal |
| A．books | B．statues | C．features | D．literature |
| A．what | B．that | C．as | D．whose |
| A．rise | B．progress | C．start | D．innovation |
| A．was checked | B．was ruined | C．was built | D．was removed |
| A．felt | B．seemed | C．banned | D．remained |
| A．unless | B．whether | C．before | D．after |
| A．overseas | B．political | C．additional | D．fundamental |
| A．precious | B．affordable | C．secret | D．fashionable |
6 . As is the fate of anyone running a hotel in Kerala these days, Bijoy George is a man with too much to do. Before pandemic-caused lockdowns began in 2020, he managed 40 employees at the Eighth Bastion Hotel in the charming historic quarter of Kochi, a bustling coastal city. Now that business is back to pre-covid levels he needs the same number of staff again. But he has only 20 workers. His plight is shared with every other hotel, café and bar. It is a result of the state’s hospitality (招待) employees moving all together in large numbers to Qatar, not to watch football but to take up employment tied to the World Cup.
As the start of the competition approaches on November 20th, workers are quitting at a rate Mr. George says he has never seen in his 22 years in the business. Qatar, a country with a population of under 3m, will have welcomed more than 1.5m visitors before the matches conclude on December 18th. That means finding staff to run all the new hotels that have been built along with other venues that have been pressed into service to profit from the sports fans.
Kerala has long been a significant source of hospitality workers for Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries. Its state government provides good schools with English-language instruction but few jobs. More than 2m people, 17% of its working population, already work overseas, largely in the Gulf.
The appeal of Qatar is straightforward. Starting salaries approach $1,000 a month, more than six times the level for similar jobs in Kerala. To replace those who have left, Kerala’s employers have been casting their nets wider. Recruiters have been extending their searches to many other Indian cities. But that means the most common word on name-tags pinned to the breast pockets of workers is “trainee”.
Among the many skills that need to be taught, says Mr. George, is smiling at customers — the failure to do so a result of shyness among those new to the workforce. The danger is that after a week or so when confidence grows, even these employees may slip away to the Gulf.
Most contracts run for three months, concluding at the end of December, not long after the World Cup final. Returning workers will be welcomed back with open arms. Filling the gaps is even more important as Indian tourism and weddings have restarted. The reunions, though, may be short-lived. The game these workers will have learned from the World Cup is how to be paid better. That means leaving India.
1. The underlined sentence in paragraph one implies that __________.| A．other hotels, cafes and bars will share Bijoy’s 20 employees |
| B．other hotels, cafes and bars will have to lay off some workers |
| C．other hotels, cafes and bars also send the workers to Qatar |
| D．other hotels, cafes and bars also find it hard to employ enough workers |
| A．Millions of tourists have to be served during the World Cup. |
| B．Hospitality workers are in high demand with new hotels and venues open for business in Qatar. |
| C．Qatar provides good education and English training for potential workers in Kerala. |
| D．The salaries of similar jobs in Kerala are much lower than those in Qatar. |
| A．Kerala’s employers have to take on new employees in Asian cities. |
| B．Many of the new employees will pin their name tags to their breast pockets. |
| C．The new employees will not greet the customers as a result of shyness. |
| D．The new employees may soon follow the trend of going to the Gulf. |
| A．Jobs outside India can provide Indian workers with a more decent life. |
| B．It will soon be the off season for Indian tourism and weddings. |
| C．Another grand occasion will soon begin in the Gulf. |
| D．The workers only sign short-term contracts with the employers in India. |
7 . About 20 years ago, Daniel Hoffman, a classically trained violinist met a young musician playing in the town square in Marrakech, an ancient city in Morocco. They communicated in the little French they both knew, but their main common language was music. On the back of a motorbike of the fellow violinist, Hoffman weaved through the back streets of the city and then learned his first lessons in Andalusian music, the classical music of North Africa.
That experience gave birth to an idea: What would it be like to try to learn how to play different violin styles around the world in just one week? Oh. yes, and at the end of that week, play a concert. He even got a name for the concept “musical extreme sports”.
It took him almost two decades to launch that dream with a friend, who introduced him to the wonders of Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. Up to now, the dream has taken the form of a new documentary currently airing on American public television stations called “Otherwise, It’s Just Firewood.”
In the documentary, Hoffman travels to County Clare, Ireland, where he takes lessons with James Kelly, a master Irish violin player, for less than a week and then performs together with him in front of an audience, many of whom are star Irish musicians.
The film is what Hoffman hopes will be the first of an eventual series of short documentaries, showing him learning to play the violin in a variety of styles, including the folk music of south India, Sweden, Greece, Romania, and West Virginia.
That would add to his extensive repertoire (全部曲目), which already includes Balkan, Middle Eastern, and Turkish styles. “The big joke is what’s the difference between the fiddle and the violin? It’s the person who plays it,” says Niall Keegan, a traditional flute player. “It’s the music you make on it that makes it Irish or English or French or classical or jazz or whatever else. It’s how we imagine it and how we create through it that make it and give it character.”
“Otherwise, it’s just firewood,” he says, words that became the film’s title.
1. Where does Hoffman’s idea of musical extreme sports come from?| A．His exploration of the local music. |
| B．His cooperation with the young violinist. |
| C．His sightseeing tour on a motorbike seat. |
| D．His constantly changing taste in violin styles. |
| A．help Hoffman to become a master violin player |
| B．are funded by American public television stations |
| C．introduce different styles of musicians around the world |
| D．record Hoffman’s experience in learning various violin styles |
| A．the power of diversified artistic expression |
| B．the pleasure in learning traditional music |
| C．the technique of instrument playing |
| D．the importance of famous artists |
8 . The New Technology and Travel Revolution
Technological advances have changed the way we travel, and these new developments promise an even more
Today, nobody
The cell phone has become our tour guide, travel agency, best restaurant locator, map, and more. It’s
This is why there’s a need to
Augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) have also entered the travel world, and the truth is that it’s a trend
In addition, we’re all familiar with Siri and Alexa, the
| A．relative | B．extensive | C．interactive | D．positive |
| A．in trouble | B．in store | C．in a box | D．in the middle |
| A．doubts | B．greets | C．concludes | D．reasons |
| A．individual | B．joint | C．separate | D．independent |
| A．innovative | B．peculiar | C．prevalent | D．initial |
| A．from all sides | B．side by side | C．on your side | D．by our side |
| A．place | B．devote | C．direct | D．adapt |
| A．recognition | B．reservation | C．support | D．revision |
| A．status | B．statue | C．environment | D．stair |
| A．regulating | B．restoring | C．eliminating | D．storing |
| A．instead of | B．due to | C．contrary to | D．along with |
| A．visual | B．digital | C．actual | D．virtual |
| A．enlist | B．participate | C．attach | D．resemble |
| A．specifically | B．generally | C．specially | D．equally |
| A．altered | B．performed | C．launched | D．imposed |
9 . The Sanxingdui Museum in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province enjoyed huge popularity during the three-day Qingming Festival holidays by receiving nearly 20,000 visitors on the peak day, after the new archaeological(考古的) discoveries brought international attention.
According to media reports, the museum saw over 15,000 visitors on Saturday, the first day of the Qingming Festival holidays, breaking its record for daily visitors. And on the next day, more visitors swarmed into the museum to exceed 19,800. To cope with the large flow of people, on Sunday afternoon, the official Weibo account of the Sanxingdui Museum released a message to remind visitors of avoiding rush hours or rescheduling their visiting time.
The Sanxingdui Museum showcases various kinds of precious cultural relics unearthed at the site, such as the 2.62-meter-tall standing statue, 1.38-meter-wide bronze mask, and 3.95-meter-high bronze tree. Earlier on March 20, Chinese archaeologists announced some new major discoveries made during the 37th excavation (挖掘) since its last excavation 35 years ago. The ruins were first discovered in the late 1920s and first excavated in 1934. More than 500 important cultural relics have been unearthed in the six newly-found pits. Since the new discoveries were known to the public, the number of people visiting the Sanxingdui Museum has increased sharply.
The museum said although it was open as usual, the newly-found pits had not opened to the public yet and the newly-excavated cultural relics were still under restoration and couldn’t meet the public currently. But a hall for cultural relic conservation and restoration would be in pilot operation in April and officially opened on May 18. Visitors to it can see how the relics are restored, according to Zhu Yarong, vice director of the Sanxingdui Museum.
Dating back about 3,000 years, the Sanxingdui Ruins have shed light on the ancient Shu civilization and cultural origins of the Chinese nation, and have been regarded as one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century.
1. What mainly brought about a surge in tourists visiting the Sanxingdui Museum?| A．Tourists’ enthusiasm. |
| B．Sichuan Province’s policy. |
| C．The Qingming Festival holidays. |
| D．New archaeological discoveries. |
| A．The Sanxingdui Ruins were first discovered in 1934. |
| B．Newly-excavated cultural relics on display attracted tourists very much. |
| C．The Sanxingdui Museum reacted immediately to the large flow of tourists. |
| D．Tourist numbers reached the peak on the first day of the Qingming Festival holidays. |
| A．Trial. | B．Private. | C．Official. | D．Personal. |
| A．The Sanxingdui Museum gives tourists insights into Chinese history. |
| B．Chinse people make full use of the Qingming Festival holidays to travel. |
| C．The Sanxingdui Ruins are a perfect tourist attraction over the Qingming Festival holidays. |
| D．New discoveries make the Sanxingdui Museum more popular during the Qingming Festival holidays. |
10 . Being a social butterfly just might change your brain: In people with a large network of friends and excellent social skills, certain brain regions are bigger and
The research suggests a
To investigate these brain
The researchers also tested whether the size of a person’s social network was connected with
The researchers couldn’t say whether social interaction
| A．better | B．more directly | C．less closely | D．worse |
| A．conflict | B．similarity | C．link | D．contrast |
| A．tell | B．show | C．ask | D．find |
| A．intentions | B．preferences | C．behaviors | D．habits |
| A．structures | B．highlights | C．differences | D．origins |
| A．academic difficulties | B．social interactions | C．personal problems | D．career advances |
| A．removed | B．adapted | C．replaced | D．enlarged |
| A．joyful | B．familiar | C．inspirational | D．distinct |
| A．Networked | B．Remote | C．Respective | D．Functional |
| A．positions | B．changes | C．roles | D．compositions |
| A．However | B．Again | C．Therefore | D．Rather |
| A．urban | B．smooth | C．twisty | D．country |
| A．minimized | B．drove | C．eliminated | D．demonstrated |
| A．assumed | B．rejected | C．concluded | D．announced |
| A．causality | B．feasibility | C．productivity | D．effectiveness |
