1 . The words “caring” and “empathetic” (共情的) aren’t ones normally associated with technology. Yearsley, an Australian enterpriser who is expert in artificial intelligence (AI), is trying to change that.
Yearsley is the founder of Akin, a robotics startup that currently uses a tablet-based system to help users manage the tasks related to home life, whether that’s planning meals or reminding you to pay your cell phone bill. Current home devices made by Google or Amazon or Apple use predictive AI to track patterns, strengthen behaviors and manipulate (操控) buying decisions, some of which, she assumes, are questionable or just unhealthy.
In contrast, the AI that she is developing will be designed to run the human home, encouraging healthful decisions such as taking a nightly walk, refilling the fridge and supporting social interactions like lunches or birthday celebrations with friends. “It’s the hardest AI I have ever built for it’s a complex system,” Yearsley says.
Yearsley began developing the Akin technology in 2017, when she realized the need to better manage the home is hugely ignored. Besides, she realized that women unequally bear the burden of household work. A United Nations’ report estimates that women do2.6 times the amount of unpaid care and domestic work that men do, or close to 30 hours per week in the U. S. alone.
While Yearsley pictures an army of robots someday helping with routine homemade tasks, the first display for Akin will take time and money. Akin has received some early seed money from a handful of investors, and was recently selected as a finalist for tech giant LG Nova’s Mission for the Future program, an annual challenge that seeks to identify businesses having potential to improve life and lead society into the future.
1. What might the Akin’s AI system suggest?| A．Consuming more drinks to enjoy yourself. | B．Staying up late working to make more money. |
| C．Spending more time staying with your family. | D．Purchasing products that may attract you. |
| A．The high cost of current home devices. | B．Akin’s becoming a finalist for a program. |
| C．Financial support from investors. | D．Heavy burden of housewives. |
| A．Questionable and unhealthy. | B．Unstable and insecure. |
| C．Thoughtful and innovative. | D．Mature and ideal. |
| A．To introduce a futuristic AI system. | B．To compare two companies’ AI systems. |
| C．To call on people to care about housewives. | D．To seek support for an AI expert. |
2 . Jason, a straight-A student from the University of Pennsylvania, uses the term “pseudo-working” to describe how many of us study. The pseudo-worker looks and feels like someone who is working hard — he or she spends a long time in the library and is not afraid to push on late into the night — but, because of a lack of focus and concentration, he or she’s doesn’t actually accomplish much.
This phenomenon can be seen on most college campuses. For example, at Dartmouth there was a section of the main library that was open twenty-four hours a day, and the students I used to see there late at night crowded in groups, drinking coffee, were definitely pseudo-working. The roommate who flips through her chemistry notes on the couch while watching TV is pseudo-working.
By placing themselves in distracting environments and insisting on working long hours, these students are damaging their brain’s ability to think clearly and efficiently accomplish the task at hand. In the end they get half the results with twice the effort.
The bigger problem here is that most students don’t even realize that they’re pseudo-working. To them pseudo-working is work—it’s how they’ve always done it, and it’s how all of their friends do it. It never crosses their mind that there might be a better way. Straight-A students, on the other hand, know all about pseudo-working. They fear it. It not only wastes time, but it’s also mentally tiring.
In fact, the most important skill in becoming a straight-A student is the ability to get work done quickly and with a minimum of wasted effort. Some cognitive science research concludes that about fifty minutes is the optimal learning period to maximize the material integrated per time unit. So how do these students achieve this goal? To understand their secret to success, consider the following simple formula(公式): work accomplished = time spent × intensity of focus.
Pseudo-working features a very low intensity of focus. Therefore, to accomplish something by pseudo-working, you need to spend a lot of time. The straight-A approach on the other hand, increases intensity in order to use less time.
1. Which of the following phenomenon is pseudo-working?| A．Tom is busy taking notes while attending a lecture. |
| B．Mike is sitting at a study lounge in preparation for a final exam quietly. |
| C．Jack spends a long time in the library on his essay while listening to music. |
| D．Alice and Sara are sitting on the couch reading their favorite books. |
| A．want to spend more time on study |
| B．are eager to follow their friends’ way |
| C．have got used to their study approach |
| D．are unaware of their pseudo-working |
| A．Possible. | B．Best. | C．Least. | D．Accurate. |
| A．The length of time on study counts. |
| B．Concentration plays a key role in study. |
| C．Getting work done quickly means everything. |
| D．Effective study approach is very important. |
3 . Tired of standing in line? Wait a bit longer, and you may never have to again.
Amazon has opened 24 of its Amazon Go stores, which use cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to see what you’ve taken off shelves and charge you as you walk out. Some companies are closely copying Amazon’s approach to using AI-powered cameras fixed in ceilings. But others are trying an entirely different way to skip the checkout: smart shopping carts. These companies have added cameras and sensors (传感器) to the carts, and are using AI to tell what you’ve put in them. Customers pay by entering a credit card, or through an online payment system. When a customer exits the store a green light on the shopping cart shows that their order is complete, and they’re charged.
The companies behind the smart carts, including Caper and Veeve, say it’s much easier to add technology to the shopping cart than to an entire store. Amazon’s Go stores rely on hundreds of cameras in the ceiling. The shelves also include sensors to tell when an item is removed. Ahmed Beshry, co-founder of Caper, believes the technology to run Go is too expensive to use in a large-format grocery store. Neither Caper nor Veeve has said how much their smart shopping carts will cost, making it difficult to compare the different formats. Shariq Siddiqui, CEO of Veeve, said, “We’re always happy when Amazon is doing something. They force retailers (零售店) to get out of their old school thinking.”
Each time a business uses AI and cameras, it raises questions about customers’ privacy and the effect on jobs. Beshry notes that the cameras in his shopping cart point down into the cart, so only a customer’s hand and part of their arm will be captured (拍摄) on camera.
1. What do we know about the smart shopping carts?| A．They are able to recognize goods put in them. |
| B．They are linked to the cameras fixed in the ceilings. |
| C．They flash the green light when the order is canceled. |
| D．They can tell customers where to find what they want. |
| A．It is likely to help retailers to think differently. |
| B．It has attracted many more retailers than before. |
| C．It is far more expensive than their shopping carts. |
| D．It may reduce the cost of running a store greatly. |
| A．That they can only buy goods online. |
| B．That goods in the stores may be more expensive. |
| C．That they have to wait in a line for a longer time. |
| D．That somebody may know their privacy. |
| A．The new technology improves retail sale. |
| B．AI-powered cameras are used in retail stores. |
| C．Artificial intelligence affects the future of job market. |
| D．Smart shopping carts will let you skip the line. |
4 . The fourth-graders walk up to a mirror — one after another — at a school in southwest Atlanta. “I’m a good person!” a boy
Another boy follows, “I’m strong and
Acker teaches science at Gideons Elementary School, and she’s in
Acker has
Mental health issues
And more so this year, kids “need all of the kindness and compassion we can
Children develop their
| A．playing | B．wearing | C．catching | D．finding |
| A．severe | B．complex | C．independent | D．elegant |
| A．hurries | B．fixes | C．calls | D．cheers |
| A．possession | B．charge | C．search | D．defense |
| A．self-love | B．self-control | C．self-discipline | D．self-pity |
| A．dramatic | B．positive | C．logical | D．reliable |
| A．linked | B．overcame | C．practiced | D．recalled |
| A．afterward | B．forward | C．eventually | D．initially |
| A．express | B．analyze | C．hide | D．grasp |
| A．suspected | B．exposed | C．boosted | D．shifted |
| A．arise | B．decrease | C．occupy | D．swing |
| A．imagination | B．ambition | C．curiosity | D．anxiety |
| A．opportunity | B．wonder | C．choice | D．crisis |
| A．handle | B．offer | C．approve | D．expand |
| A．languages | B．arguments | C．doubts | D．beliefs |
5 . I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.
It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls(头骨)of you, your children, your neighbors and those that reside next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.
The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to flourish.
Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.
Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.
Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for abundant wildlife and serves as a reminder for me.
1. Why does the author wear a bike helmet while working in the garden?| A．To protect the injured skull |
| B．To avoid being hit by the fruits. |
| C．To prevent herself from sunburn |
| D．To protect herself from getting caught in the rain |
| A．It accepts new plant varieties |
| B．It absorbs chemicals through its roots |
| C．It lets out a poison to drive away pests |
| D．It produces a chemical deadly to some plants |
| A．The tree is home to some birds and other creatures. |
| B．The tree is protected under the law for its fruits. |
| C．The tree is so giant that the author wants to remove it. |
| D．The writer is accustomed to living without the tree. |
| A．The early bird catches the worm. |
| B．Better late than never. |
| C．Constant dropping wears away a stone. |
| D．Acceptance instead of resistance is the better policy. |
6 . The cure for boredom is to surprise yourself with outdoor activities. The hiking in Banff and Lake Louise is among the most scenic and inspiring in the world. Ranging from walks and easy hikes to kind of adventurous ones, hiking in Banff and Lake Louise is your chance to step outside of your normal and into a truly magical world.
Hiking to Lakes and Waterfalls
The lakes of Banff National Park have been drawing visitors from all over the world for more than one hundred years, so dip your toes into the icy water, take a look around, and enjoy the silence. You’ll feel like you’ve been frozen in time.
Guided Hiking
One of the best ways to experience the mountains is with the help of a friendly guide. Joining a guided hike will not only give you access to incredible scenery, but it will give you a much deeper appreciation of your surroundings. Is that a goat or a sheep? They’ll have the answer.
Winter Hiking
There are many opportunities for hiking during the winter months. Its worth the effort to put on some extra layers and set off for outside adventure into the freezing mountain air and snow.
Hiking for Families
A first trip to the mountains will be a magical experience, but finding the right and safe adventure is key to a great day. Banff and Lake Louise offer a number of hikes and walks for all abilities, where hiking with your little one doesn’t mean sacrificing(牺牲)on scenery.
Click here for further information or download our app to keep current!
1. Which should people choose to get a better knowledge of where they hike?| A．Guided Hiking | B．Winter Hiking |
| C．Hiking for Families | D．Hiking to Lakes and Waterfalls. |
| A．It provides childcare services |
| B．It requires rich hiking experience |
| C．It is a rewarding adventure |
| D．It is danger-free for different hiking levels |
| A．A sports magazine | B．A local newspaper. |
| C．A tourism website | D．A travel brochure |
7 . I was sitting at the table having breakfast. A little taste of autumn
Now I know many people would be
| A．worry | B．comfort | C．joy | D．sadness |
| A．growing | B．turning | C．falling | D．rising |
| A．large | B．nice | C．white | D．empty |
| A．listening to | B．looking at | C．shouting at | D．jumping over |
| A．near | B．away | C．far | D．up |
| A．saved | B．wiped | C．killed | D．covered |
| A．enemy | B．toy | C．bed | D．food |
| A．dangerous | B．light | C．safe | D．healthy |
| A．smiling | B．standing | C．reading | D．eating |
| A．worried | B．shocked | C．confused | D．satisfied |
| A．just | B．even | C．still | D．ever |
| A．copied | B．remembered | C．found | D．invented |
| A．pity | B．sorry | C．happiness | D．love |
| A．far | B．expensive | C．small | D．harmful |
| A．cured | B．improved | C．received | D．cleaned |
8 . Parking in the CBD of any Australian city is expensive, hard to come by and often an unavoidable headache.
But Rylan Kindness, a 16-year-old entrepreneur (企业家) from Brisbane, thinks he might have the answer to this problem.
It was after Rylan realized his parents were spending hours to try and find parking deals in the city that he came up with the idea for a centralized system. This system shows users the best price for parking in the area they want and offers users a daily deal with a discount.
Rylan now doubles as a high school student and the CEO of Parking Deals Australia, a role he took on four months ago when he launched the business from his bedroom.
Parking Deals Australia isn’t even Rylan’s first business. When he was barely 11, Rylan came up with an idea to sell wholesale (批发的) scooter parts (儿童滑板车配件) online, purely because he just wanted some extra money. On the side, he’s succeeding in other passions as well.
And despite Rylan clearly being a high-achiever and having a knack (诀 窍) for business, he admitted it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“I’ve learned so many crazy things through trial and error. Every day I fail somewhere but I always try to get better. My biggest failure was when I first set up everything and thought it was what everyone else would like but it’s a shock when you see people not enjoying what you’re doing. It makes you want to cry a little bit but then you polish the product and keep going, ” he said.
While Rylan didn’t want to say exactly how much his now-bustling company is worth, he did admit he’s making a tidy profit.
“I earn more in one day than I was earning for three months work in a cafe but I’m investing it all back into the business. What I’ve learned is that if you’re starting a business just to make money, you’re definitely going to fail. I’m there to help millions of people and that’s what really gets me going, ” he said.
Rylan’s goal with Parking Deals Australia is to take it countrywide.
“We want to be everyone’s second step in their parking journey and save millions of people millions of dollars,” he said.
1. According to the article, the centralized system can ________.| A．find free parking areas | B．analyze users’ parking habits |
| C．show the nearest parking lot for drivers | D．recommend the cheapest parking spaces |
| A．His parents asked him to develop the centralized system. |
| B．He started to display a talent for business when he was about 11. |
| C．He left school to run his own company four months ago. |
| D．He started his first business by setting up Parking Deals Australia. |
| A．has shown him that the beginning is the most difficult time |
| B．has taught him to work through failures by improving |
| C．has helped him finish his high school study. |
| D．has inspired him not to care too much about others’ opinions |
| A．To earn some extra money for making bigger investments. |
| B．To become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Australia. |
| C．To help people while making a profit. |
| D．To expand his influence on a national scale. |
9 . Cities are likely to be affected by overheating, thanks to something called the urban heat island effect. Cities tend to be short of trees, which provide shade, and they are covered with black pavement, which absorbs heat from the sun. Think of how it feels to wear a dark shirt versus a white shirt on a sunny day. A black shirt absorbs light, heating you up. But a white shirt reflects light, keeping you cool.
The average temperature in a city of a million or more people can be more than 5 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. That extra 5 degrees can turn a hot day from uncomfortable to deadly.
As temperatures rise, cities will be an especially dangerous place to be during a heat wave. To protect public health, city officials are going to make the city cooler.
As part of that effort, Los Angeles is coating its roads in CoolSeal, a gray paint that keeps streets and parking lots 10 degrees cooler than black asphalt(沥青). It will help Angelinos save money during the summer, when air conditioning sends power bills soaring. And it will save lives by lowering temperatures and improving air quality. Hot weather worsens air pollution by turning car exhaust into smog, which can make life miserable for people with asthma(哮喘)and other breathing problems.
Of course, LA will have to do more than paint over a few streets to cool off the city. Angelinos will also need to plant more trees and apply white paint to rooftops—at least those not already covered in solar panels. While LA is a pioneer of reflective streets, other cities, like New York, are already experimenting with reflective roofs or, like Melbourne, lowering the temperature by planting trees. LA is hardly alone in its effort to stay cool.
“This is an urgent challenge, and it’s much bigger than one person,” said Mayor Garctti in a recent statement. “Climate change is a fact of life that people in Los Angeles and cities around the world live with every day.”
1. What may contribute to the urban heat island effect?| A．Planting more trees in the streets. |
| B．Applying reflective paint to rooftops. |
| C．Covering the streets with white paint. |
| D．Covering the streets with black paint. |
| A．How to make the city cooler. | B．Where to wear a white shirt. |
| C．When to cut off the electricity supply. | D．Why to coat the roads with black paint. |
| A．Increasing the indoor activities. | B．Reducing the number of cold days. |
| C．Promoting the sale of air conditioners. | D．Making life easier and more comfortable. |
| A．L. A. calls on people to fight against global warming. |
| B．L. A. realizes the necessity to plant trees in the streets. |
| C．L. A. is painting its streets white to keep the city cool. |
| D．L. A. has difficulty in fighting against heat. |
10 . My cellphone rang while I was working on my computer. I looked at the phone and saw it was my 17-year-old son, Tom. I quickly picked it up. “Mom, I got a 71 on the test. I did it.” With those few words, I could feel my heart start to pound.
Living in New York State, students cannot graduate from high school unless they pass at least five exams: one in English, one in science, two in history and one in math. For most students, who work hard, attend class, and do their homework, it isn’t that hard. But for Tom, who is dyslexic(朗读困难的), it is such a real challenge that some teachers have feared he would never be able to even attempt, never mind achieve.
We were honest with him about his trouble, letting him know that there was nothing to be ashamed of. Some people learn differently. If he was willing to work, we would help him find a way to do as much as he could in his academic career. All that was standing in his way was this math test. He had taken it three times and did better each time, but he continued to fail. He was starting to get a bit tired of me saying this was a marathon not a sprint(冲刺). My heart broke each time we would get the failing results.
“Mom, thanks. I love you. Thanks for believing I could do this.”
For one of the few times in my life, I really had nothing left to say. For that one brief moment I knew, really, really, knew that everything we did to help our son achieve what he wanted was worth it.
1. What does the underlined word “pound” in Paragraph l probably mean?| A．Sink suddenly. | B．Beat wildly. |
| C．Ache violently. | D．Break totally. |
| A．Students in New York State can graduate from high school if they pass four exams. |
| B．Students in New York State needn’t to learn math even if they want to graduate. |
| C．It is very hard for students in New York State to graduate from high school. |
| D．It is a challenge for Tom to graduate from high school. |
| A．English | B．science | C．math | D．history |
| A．She felt grateful and relaxed. | B．She felt surprised and bitter. |
| C．She felt proud and satisfied. | D．She felt worried and anxious. |
