2 . I’m retired and not responsible for much these days. My wife’s work, on the other hand, is never-ending. Diana takes care of her parents in their mid-nineties,_________home and garden, volunteers for various community organizations. She is also a devoted cat lover, and cats have always been her___________of choice.

All that___________when two small black-and-brown dogs rushed into our yard and___________Diana’s heart. They were homeless dogs. In their___________for survival, the two had figured out a way to___________people and find food and shelter in the wilderness. Diana made an intended effort not to frighten them. She called them to dinner with a___________voice, letting them know they were safe. At first, they would not let her___________them. As days turned into weeks, their bond (关系) slowly grew.___________, she had them sitting in her lap and following her around the yard. My wife was instantly changed from cat lady to dog lady.

It wasn’t long before the dogs were considering their role as “watchdogs”. Their once-wild____________transformed into loyalty and devotion towards us. Their energy and enthusiasm are infectious (有感染力的),____________us to appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Their____________has put a sense of liveliness into our home. As we____________this chapter of our lives with our dog “friends”, I am grateful for the ____________joy they have brought us and the ____________they continue to teach us about the importance of kindness and unconditional love.

1.

A．tends to

B．turns to

C．gives way to

D．looks forward to

2.

A．job

B．pet

C．toy

D．fan

3.

A．stopped

B．failed

C．changed

D．happened

4.

A．attacked

B．warmed

C．broke

D．gladdened

5.

A．hunger

B．demand

C．hurry

D．struggle

6.

A．identify

B．greet

C．enjoy

D．avoid

7.

A．confused

B．forgiving

C．comforting

D．sacred

8.

A．observe

B．touch

C．call

D．feed

9.

A．Privately

B．Immediately

C．Gradually

D．Obviously

10.

A．behavior

B．attitude

C．nature

D．emotion

11.

A．reminding

B．informing

C．advising

D．warning

12.

A．presence

B．influence

C．survival

D．adventure

13.

A．explore

B．read

C．search

D．enjoy

14.

A．secret

B．equal

C．normal

D．unexpected

15.

A．skills

B．courses

C．lessons

D．tricks

3 . Science fiction novels often turn into a nightmare (噩梦) halfway through—and for blue-collar workers who are at the bottom level of the labor force, there’s a doubt about the way the robot revolution story will end. By 2035, one in three jobs could be automated (自动化) by robots, predicts PwC, a business company.

“Robotics is traditionally applied to problems that fall into the categories ‘dirty,’ ‘dull,’ and ‘dangerous,’” says Jonathan Aitken, a robotics expert at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. “Automation of a repeated process is always achievable. The lack of variability means that the process is the same, time after time. This is the reason that robots fell naturally into automotive production.” It’s been the case since the first robots appeared on production lines.

But it’s not just blue-collar jobs that are feeling the difficult situation from the rise of the robots. White-collar roles are also affected, particularly those focused on data sorting, a task well-suited for artificial intelligence. Financial services is one area that has turned to automated robots carrying out trades. When a computer can pick stocks better and quicker than a human, it makes sense to make use of them, and almost all Wall Street firms do

Jobs where workers are less likely to be replaced by robots include those in health care, although surgical (外科手术的) robots, which are controlled by remote health-care professionals in order to carry out more precise procedures, are already being used in hospitals. However, the gentle touch and caring comfort of a well-trained nurse or doctor can’t be copied by a robot automation.

“It’s important to ask the question of whether we want robots doing certain jobs,” says Aitken. “In replacing a human, especially in a human-facing role, we’re being asked to accept the robot. This is something that’ll take time to achieve. People still like people.”

1. In which workplace are robots most widely used at present?

A．Schools.

B．Hospitals.

C．Factories.

D．Banks.

2. What is the disadvantage of Robots according to the text?

A．Doing repeated jobs.	B．Having no remote control.
C．Not being automated enough.	D．Lack of human-like feeling.

3. What does Aitken think of robots replacing a human?

A．Unavoidable.

B．Risky.

C．Optimistic.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Will Robots Take Our Jobs?	B．Can Robots Do Jobs Best?
C．Robots: Future Labor Force	D．Robots: Masters of Traditional Jobs

5 . I am often asked how I learned to speak Chinese fluently. ______, as a native English speaker, learning to speak in tones was the ______ part about learning Chinese for me. To ______ the tones, I lived in Shanghai for 6 months. Once I wanted to buy a ______ for my mother. Unluckily, the words for “horse” and “mother” are only differentiated by a ______ tone. When I told the store clerk I wanted to buy a gift for my“horse”, she looked at me like I had lost my ______ . In the end, she _____ what I was trying to say, but it was a bit of a struggle. After that, I learned the ______ between the two tones.

After returning to England, I bought a web camera and found myself a language ______by going to ichinese.com, where I met a native speaker willing to help me learn Chinese. Together, we ______ speaking Chinese for a few hours per week. ______, I not only mastered my tones but learned to speak more ______, just like a native speaker.

In my ______, when studying Chinese in an English-speaking environment, my classmates and I often made a ______ of the tones when speaking to one another. In fact, in a Chinese-speaking environment, the ______ interaction is of great importance for fluency, and it separates the amateurs (业余爱好者) from the experts.

1.

A．Hopefully

B．Actually

C．Surprisingly

D．Similarly

2.

A．main

B．best

C．basic

D．hardest

3.

A．learn

B．match

C．lower

D．record

4.

A．horse

B．camera

C．gift

D．dictionary

5.

A．soft

B．formal

C．single

D．pleasant

6.

A．mind

B．balance

C．interest

D．confidence

7.

A．agreed with

B．worked out

C．focused on

D．brought up

8.

A．clue

B．difference

C．issue

D．importance

9.

A．test

B．learner

C．magazine

D．partner

10.

A．suggested

B．considered

C．practiced

D．avoided

11.

A．As a rule

B．At times

C．As a result

D．At first

12.

A．fluently

B．openly

C．meaningfully

D．slowly

13.

A．heart

B．dream

C．power

D．experience

14.

A．list

B．mess

C．habit

D．collection

15.

A．back-to-back

B．eye-to-eye

C．knee-to-knee

D．face-to-face

6 . Les Brown was a city sanitation worker (环卫工人). But he had a ________ of being a disc jockey (电台的音乐节目主持人). He ________ an imaginary radio station in his tiny room. A hairbrush served as his microphone as he ________ his patter (说辞), introducing records to his ________ listeners.

One day Les went to the local radio station, and told the station manager he wanted to be a disc jockey.

The manager asked, “Do you have any ________ in broadcasting?”

Les replied, “No, sir, I don’t.”

“Well, I’m afraid we don’t have a job for you.” Les thanked him politely and left.

The station manager ________ the depth of Les Brown’s commitment to his goal. Les had a higher ________ than simply wanting to be a disc jockey. He wanted to buy a nicer house for his mother. The disc jockey job was only a(n) ________ toward his goal. He felt sure that he would get a jab at that radio station despite what the manager had ________ .

From then on, Les ________ every day for a week. Finally the manager ________ and took him on as an errand boy (跑腿男孩). Les did whatever was asked of him but he learned ________ how to work the controls in the studio.

One day, a jockey named Rock suddenly didn’t feel well. Les was the only other person at the station. Because of his ________ , Les was ready. He ________ the audience, and his manager. From that decisive ________ , Les went on to a successful career in broadcasting, public speaking and television.

1.

A．role

B．reputation

C．chance

D．dream

2.

A．refused

B．created

C．discovered

D．shared

3.

A．practiced

B．translated

C．taught

D．simplified

4.

A．curious

B．previous

C．imaginary

D．fashionable

5.

A．interest

B．memory

C．doubt

D．background

6.

A．measured

B．forgot

C．underestimated

D．mistook

7.

A．education

B．purpose

C．praise

D．income

8.

A．step

B．excuse

C．risk

D．test

9.

A．found

B．dropped

C．said

D．achieved

10.

A．adjusted

B．returned

C．spread

D．relaxed

11.

A．stayed up

B．set off

C．showed off

D．gave in

12.

A．poorly

B．secretly

C．safely

D．normally

13.

A．preparation

B．explanation

C．contribution

D．appreciation

14.

A．ignored

B．comforted

C．recalled

D．surprised

15.

A．adaptation

B．introduction

C．beginning

D．requirement

7 . Without shiny black solar panels (太阳能板) on the roof, the residents in an apartment building in Illinois are enjoying the benefits of “community solar” — a program in which residents can buy electricity from nearby solar farms, reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions (排放) and receiving discounts on their electric bills.

The solar energy in community solar doesn’t actually flow into your home, but flows into your area’s power grid (电网), providing electricity to homes and businesses in your region, and you get the benefits of government solar rewards in the form of lower electricity bills.

Among those signing up for the program is Dickerson, 73, of Oak Park, Illinois. “Try it; you’ll like it,” he said. “You’ll save money, and you’ll feel good about saving the planet — at least a little bit.” Proudly showing charts of their electricity costs in a recent interview, Dickerson and his fellow members of the community green committee, said they’re all paying less with community solar for their individual homes as well as the community’s common space.

Community solar was pioneered in the mid-2000s as a way to bring clean energy to the many American households without access to solar panels for various reasons. “Community solar is about to boost everywhere in terms of access,” said Nicole Steele, a senior advisor in the U. S. Department of Energy. “It’s just another way to be part of the clean energy transformation and see the actual benefits.”

Dickerson and his neighbour Johnson have been protecting the planet since childhood, such as leaving no litter in the forest and sorting recyclables. Therefore, they found it easy to accept community solar. Now, the building’s green newsletter, edited by Johnson, is trumpeting community solar savings. “As a parent and grandparent, it’s kind of like a heritage,” Johnson said of this work. “How could I do something that’s bad for the world in which my grandchildren are going to live?”

1. How does community solar work?

A．By directly transporting energy to households.

B．By equipping residents’ rooftops with panels.

C．By storing electricity in nearby solar farms.

D．By providing electricity through the power grid.

2. Why did Dickerson and the committee members sign up for the program?

A．To prevent greenhouse gas emission.

B．To reduce cost and help save the planet.

C．To experience a more convenient energy.

D．To get rewards from the local government.

3. What is Nicole Steele’s attitude to community solar?

A．Doubtful.

B．Dismissive.

C．Conservative.

D．Approving.

4. What does the underlined word “trumpeting” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Admitting shyly.	B．Stating critically.
C．Explaining secretly.	D．Announcing proudly.

8 . A man named Joe in Austin spent several months in order to adopt a dog. Alva is a dog with wobbler syndrome(摇摆综合征), but that didn’t _________ Joe from knowing they would be together.

_________ at Austin Pets Alive in November 2020 at just 5 months old, Alva was _________ , skinny, and in need of a helping paw. She had a hard time _________ and walking on account of the _________ . After almost 24 months of shelter stays, the _________ in her life with wobblers and multiple owners had made her self-protective, _________ , and shy.

Joe had originally seen Alva on APA’s Instagram, and determined to do something to help her. “I just _________ her and said, ‘I bet everyone has given up on you,’” Joe told APA! “‘I’m not going to do that to you.’”

Nor did he, but instead visited her at APA every single day for two months to earn her _________ in the hope that he could welcome her into his __________. Seeing that there was a potential end to Alva’s difficulties, APA staff worked hard to treat and __________ Alva. Alva recovered well during the two months, and __________Joe got what he wished for—Alva was able to move in with him.

He __________ his house with various ramps and carpeted corners to ensure she had a safe, comfortable environment.

“Alva gave me a __________ every time I saw her, and that was: inspiration. It is her infectious spirit that makes her __________, and brightens my days,” Joe told APA!

1.

A．defend

B．stop

C．protect

D．excuse

2.

A．Coming

B．Wandering

C．Arriving

D．Shouting

3.

A．bloody

B．tough

C．strange

D．weak

4.

A．barking

B．standing

C．eating

D．shaking

5.

A．disease

B．hunger

C．injury

D．fear

6.

A．prejudices

B．attacks

C．changes

D．sufferings

7.

A．energetic

B．disciplined

C．sensitive

D．adaptable

8.

A．turned to

B．looked at

C．waited for

D．called on

9.

A．trust

B．reputation

C．mercy

D．living

10.

A．home

B．office

C．garden

D．shelter

11.

A．adapt to

B．take after

C．depend on

D．attend to

12.

A．surprisingly

B．immediately

C．eventually

D．exactly

13.

A．assisted

B．associated

C．equipped

D．filled

14.

A．hand

B．lesson

C．hug

D．gift

15.

A．struggle

B．shine

C．stay

D．exist

9 . In the Pixar movie Up, a fun cartoon dog called Dug wears a magical collar which can detect and translate his barks and cries into fluent human speech. Humans have always been fascinated by the potential to communicate with the animals. This week, an article in the New York Times documented major efforts from a group of researchers using machine-learning algorithms (算法) to analyze the different calls of whales, chickens, bats, cats, and more.

There are several ways to train AI systems now. Typically, Al systems learn through training with labeled data of human language which can be well supplied by the Internet. But analyzing animal language is different. Scientists have to instruct software programs on what to look for, and how to organize the data. This process requires matching gained vocal (发声的) recordings with the visual social behaviors of animals. A group studying Egyptian fruit bats, for example, also used video cameras to record the bats themselves to provide context for the calls.

Many critics of this approach point out two weaknesses of current AI language models: being unable to truly understand the relationships between words and the objects in the real world, and scientists’ little understanding of animal societies. Al language models for humans rely on a computer mapping out the relationship between words and the contexts they could appear in. But these models have their own weak points, and can sometimes be a black box—researchers know what goes in and comes out, but don’t quite understand how the algorithm is arriving at the conclusion.

Another factor that researchers should take into account is that animal communications might not work at all like human communications. There might be unique elements to animal language due to physiological and behavioral differences.

Making a Translator for animals has been a popular project that’s been in the works for the last decade. Although some software has shown some success in identifying the basic vocabulary of certain animals, it’s still a far cry from understanding the complex animal languages.

1. Why do researchers use Al to analyze animals’ calls?

A．To tell the differences among animals.

B．To test Al’s ability of translating animal language.

C．To understand animal language better.

D．To explore the fun of communicating with animals.

2. What makes analyzing animal language different?

A．The lack of labeled data for training Al systems.

B．The difficulty in relating human speech to real objects.

C．The need for sound recordings to provide context.

D．The matching of vocal recordings with their calls.

3. What does the underlined term “black box” refer to in Paragraph 3?

A．Al language models to study animal communication.

B．The researchers’ study on animal societies.

C．The relationship between words and context.

D．The method of Al algorithms to draw conclusions.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Al systems for animal language translation.

B．Limitations of current Al language models.

C．Unique aspects of detecting animal language.

D．Challenges in creating a translator for animals.

10 . With the arrival of the summer heat, cultural-themed ice creams are once again trending across social media platforms in China.

Museums, scenic spots, amusement parks and even universities have once again rolled out their unique cultural-themed ice creams this year. These ice creams are often tiny copies of famous landmarks or cultural relies that offer visitors a delight for the taste buds.

The trend of cultural-themed ice creams began in 2019 when the Old Summer Palace in Beijing was one of the first scenic spots in China to introduce lotus-shaped ice creams. It was inspired by that in 2017 eleven ancient lotus(莲花)seeds were discovered in a pool at the Old Summer Palace. Six of these ancient lotus seeds bloomed in the summer of 2019. So to mark the occasion, staff at the Old Summer Palace designed ice creams shaped like lotus blossoms. These ice creams were widely loved by visitors, not only serving as a cold treat but also offering a unique way for visitors to sample and connect with their cultural heritage.

To protect their cultural relics, many museums have put up signs prohibiting photography or the use of a flash. However, cultural-themed ice creams provide an alternative way for visitors to catch memories of their visit. Various flavors offer visitors a choice of colors and ingredients for the ice cream, which reflect the local characteristics and charm of these cold treats. It is also suggested by the museums that the visitors can take the carved ice cream bars home with them to use as bookmarks.

For many young people, taking photos of themselves standing alongside cultural landmarks is an artistic preference from their parents’ generation. To them, a selfie(自拍)with a cultural -themed ice cream is a much cooler way to show off their travel experiences and bridge the gap between modern life and distant historical relics.

1. What can we learn about cultural-themed ice creams from the first two paragraphs?

A．Visitors spend much money on them.	B．They may be shaped like landmarks.
C．Visitors are eager to try their taste.	D．They are made due to summer heat.

2. What inspired the idea of cultural-themed ice creams?

A．The Old Summer Palace.	B．The wide love by visitors.
C．The blossoms of the six seeds.	D．The discovery of ancient lotus.

3. For what are cultural-themed ice creams well-received?

A．Protecting cultural relics.	B．Remembering one’s visit.
C．Being used as bookmarks.	D．Offering visitors various flavors.

4. Why do the youth take the selfie with a cultural-themed ice cream?

A．To do something different.	B．To bridge the gap with their parents.
C．To show off their cooler way to travel.	D．To show their connection with culture.