1 . Countries around the globe are spending billions of dollars and lots of time on various space missions, whether to Mars or other planets much further away. Some people argue that we should stop wasting time and money exploring space. Instead, we should feed the world’s poor and find immediate solutions to other problems, such as pollution and fatal diseases (致命疾病). However, others feel this is a shallow view which fails to realise how exploring space helps us.
Firstly, exploring space has already made a difference in the fight against world hunger. It has directly resulted in the many satellites that now orbit Earth. A number of the satellites record data on land and weather patterns. Then the data is transmitted (传送) to scientists on Earth. After careful analysis, the scientists can provide useful recommendations and advice for farmers. As a result, space-based science has helped farming in its efforts to grow enough food to feed Earth’s increasing population.
Secondly, space exploration has already promoted technological improvements that benefit us all. High-end products around the world are made to a higher standard now because of advanced technology which was first created to meet the requirements for space exploration. For example, space technologies have helped the research and development of different types of new material. They have also helped companies make better heart monitors and other machines that doctors regularly use. Today, space technologies are widely used in all kinds of industries, and everyday products such as GPS, memory foam pillows (记忆棉枕头), and smartphone cameras are changing our lives.
Finally, sending astronauts into space has helped people to think about the world’s problems and even to find ways to solve them. Seeing pictures of our planet as an island in a black sea made people realise that our planet’s resources are limited. In order to provide for such a rapidly increasing population, scientists are trying to find other planets that could one day be our new home. The greatest attention at present is on Mars because it is closer to Earth. In the future, humans may live on both planets.
In closing, exploring space provides the world with many different benefits. Therefore, it should continue so as to provide new and better solutions to people’s short-term and long-term problems.
1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．propose a definition | B．make a comparison |
| C．reach a conclusion | D．present an argument |
| A．They can collect information of the land and weather changes. |
| B．They can provide useful recommendations for farmers. |
| C．They can fight against world hunger directly. |
| D．They can analyze the data and make suggestions. |
| A．Space exploration no longer requires high-end products. |
| B．High-end products cannot meet the needs of space exploration. |
| C．Our daily life has benefited from the development of space technology. |
| D．The development of new material is a must for space exploration. |
| A．Space exploration has changed the way our planet works. |
| B．Space exploration helps to discover and solve Earth’s problems. |
| C．In the future, all humans may have to move to Mars. |
| D．Resource shortage and population growth are already serious problems. |
| A．To provide guidance on how to carry out space exploration. |
| B．To stress the need of promoting technology. |
| C．To state the importance of exploring space. |
| D．To suggest a way of meeting the requirements for space exploration. |
2 . Is it possible to make machines think like humans? This is one question in research in the field of Artificial Intelligence, or “AI” To think like a human, it involves feelings, morality, hopes, and dreams. Humans are capable of making decisions by themselves without input from others, and they can learn from experience. In addition, humans are able to create things from their own inspiration for their own pleasure. The question is whether machines can ever really think in all these aspects. The idea of a computer that is all-powerful and can think and make decisions for itself terrifies many people. In some films, AI even decides that all humans must be killed. Many people are also concerned that AI will be used to replace humans.
Yet others are comforted by the thought of AI. Maybe with AI. robots can be made to replace loved ones who have died. Today, the creation of an all-powerful computer capable of human thought is still in progress. We have companion (陪伴) robots, and it is likely that they will grow more important in our lives as time goes by. However, the need for such robots does not seem to be as critical as our need for intelligent machines that can solve problems by learning from their observations and experience.
For example, AI is already being used with great success in Internet search engines and as a personal assistant in our smartphones. It learns from our habits to help us find what we want and like. AI is also used to diagnose (诊断) problems and suggest solutions. Researchers are also experimenting with the use of AI in driverless cars which can sense their surroundings and decide on the best way to reach a destination. It is also being used in education, particularly in online courses. Furthermore, industries that use robots for repetitive or dangerous work often turn to AI to manage these electronic workers. In addition, virtual assistants are also being used in some homes today. In the near future, it is likely that AI will be used to manage smart homes and handle an even greater variety of tasks such as setting out favourite clothes and helping us with our personal grooming (梳妆). The AI of today has already proven its superiority to humans in many areas. Do you think that we can create a robot that thinks like a human or one that is even more intelligent? If so, is there truly a difference between AI and a human?
1. What can we learn from Paragraphs 1 and 2?| A．We already have all-powerful computers with the power of human thought. |
| B．One day the AI will decide on its own to wipe out humans. |
| C．Robots with AI have the potential to replace our loved ones. |
| D．In contrast, humans need artificial intelligence machines to help us solve problems rather than companion robots. |
| A． AI will eventually be used to manage workers. |
| B．AI is often used to manage robots on production lines. |
| C．Industrial robots are completely different from electronic workers. |
| D．Industrial robots often turn to AI. |
| A．Smartphones already have AI technology. |
| B． AI technology for driverless cars is already mature. |
| C． AI has been being used to mange smart homes. |
| D．Artificial intelligence has proved its superiority over humanity in all fields. |
| A．Short-sighted. | B．Wait-and-see. | C．Optimistic. | D．Skeptical. |
| A． AI Thinks Like Humans | B．AI Robots |
| C．AI and Human Beings | D．The Future of AI |
3 . Talking about Beijing Opera, we cannot forget to mention one of its greatest performers: Mei Lanfang, a brilliant artist who played an important role in bringing Beijing Opera to the world. Mei Lanfang was born in Beijing in 1894. He started to learn the
Mei Lanfang quickly became well-known among Chinese audiences
And so, in 1919, Mei Lanfang began to travel abroad,
Mei Lanfang
Mei Lanfang died in 1961 of heart disease. During his more than 50 years on the stage, Mei Lanfang took traditions from the past and
| A．name | B．history | C．art | D．tradition |
| A．celebrities | B．masters | C．fans | D．audiences |
| A．assistant | B．amateur | C．supporting | D．leading |
| A．for | B．as | C．with | D．by |
| A．entertained | B．avoided | C．fooled | D．gathered |
| A．needed | B．wanted | C．got | D．learned |
| A．heart | B．abroad | C．world | D．community |
| A．came to | B．agreed to | C．got down to | D．longed to |
| A．maintain | B．polish | C．identify | D．appreciate |
| A．showing | B．taking | C．giving | D．playing |
| A．tours | B．fames | C．reforms | D．routines |
| A．valued | B．elegant | C．opened | D．honored |
| A．approaches | B．responses | C．goals | D．shames |
| A．dreams | B．controls | C．attempts | D．trades |
| A．sacrificed | B．brought | C．risked | D．devoted |
| A．ultimately | B．mostly | C．absolutely | D．constantly |
| A．characters | B．experiences | C．stars | D．lives |
| A．merely | B．uniquely | C．entirely | D．barely |
| A．adapted | B．deserted | C．drew | D．declined |
| A．brought out | B．left behind | C．gave out | D．filled up |
4 . Nenad Sestan was working in his office one afternoon in 2019 when he heard his lab members whispering with excitement over a microscope. He realized something beyond their expectations was happening.
The researchers, at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, had found electrical activity in brains taken from dead pigs. With that shocking result, Sestan realized what had started as a side project to find ways to better preserve brain tissue for research had changed into a discovery that could redefine our understanding of life and death.
The excitement soon turned to concern, when the researchers thought they saw widespread, consistent electrical activity which can indicate consciousness. Sestan brought in a neurologist, who determined the readout (信息读出) was actually an error, but the possibility had frightened them.
Sestan kept his cool and immediately did two things: he shut down the experiment and contacted the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as Yale bioethicist (生物伦理学家). Over the next few months, experts discussed the potential ethical effects, such as whether the brains could become conscious and whether physicians needed to reconsider the definition of brain death.
They submitted the work to the “Nature”. But before the final paper was published: Sestan met sharp criticism from the press. Some even suggested the researchers were working on immortality (永生), or keeping a room full of living brains in jars. Neither he or his team wanted to discuss the results until the paper was out, but as their inboxes filled with concerns and anger from animal rights activists and futurists (未来主义者), Sestan became depressed. He felt all they could do, however, was to hold off on correcting public misunderstandings until the expert review process ended.
Since the paper was published in April, 2023, the team has been so busy with questions from the media and scientists that it hasn’t performed any further experiments. Sestan wants to focus on his original questions and explore how long the brains can be maintained and whether the technology can preserve other organs.
“We want to get outside opinion before we do anything.” Sestan says. “When you explore uncharted area, you have to be extremely thoughtful.”
1. What happened in the lab at Yale School of Medicine in 2019?| A．A better method was found to keep brain issue. |
| B．Researchers discovered how to redefine brain death. |
| C．Researchers achieved expected results of the experiment. |
| D．Brains from dead pigs were accidentally discovered alive. |
| A．He needed assistance with the final paper. |
| B．He discovered a major mistake in the final result. |
| C．He was concerned about the related moral problems. |
| D．He was frightened by the possibility of failure in the future. |
| A．Nobody wanted to discuss the final result in advance! |
| B．Some people supported the research on immortality. |
| C．The press was strongly opposed to the experiment. |
| D．The public took a positive attitude towards the experiment. |
| A．Responsible and reliable. | B．Professional and cautious |
| C．Helpful and creative. | D．Determined and inspiring. |
| A．Horrible. | B．Specific. | C．Developed. | D．Unknown. |
5 . Storytelling is an ancient art form that has been used to hand down legends, tales and factual stories. Perhaps the first thing that springs to mind when you think of storytelling is the fantasy land that took shape in your mind while Mom or Dad told you stories about princes, castles and monsters, with a unique voice for each character.
Storytelling does not just take place at bedtime or round a campfire, however. It can take some other forms, either via the books we read or the films we watch. But they usually have some elements in common: rather than a list of dry facts, stories have plots and they introduce characters. We respond to stories, particularly when there is emotional detail.
And unlike what we suppose, storytelling is not just a form of entertainment, but a form of learning as well. Long before reading and writing became widely spread and available, oral storytelling had already been a form that the wisdom and knowledge of the people were passed down from elders to children. A good story engages our curiosity, emotions and imagination.
Storytelling helps with learning also because stories are easy to remember. Research has found that learning obtained from a well-told story is remembered more accurately, and for far longer, than from facts and figures.
And above all, stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world.
This aspect of storytelling-presenting a different perspective of the world—is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen or challenge our opinions and values. So, when someone tells us their own personal story, we catch a glimpse (瞥见) of a view of the world that may be slightly or significantly different from our own. When we see the world as they see it, or walk in their shoes, the experience can inspire empathy (共情；同理心) with them.
1. What occurs to us the moment we think of “storytelling”?| A．A child's imaginary world. |
| B．Voices of Mom or Dad. |
| C．An ancient art form. |
| D．Factual stories. |
| A．Form and style. |
| B．Facts and figures. |
| C．Emotional and physical details. |
| D．A series of events and characters. |
| A．It carries more wisdom and knowledge. |
| B．It is more widely available to young learners. |
| C．It satisfies our imagination and releases our emotions. |
| D．It makes what is learned more precise and longer lasting. |
| A．By offering us more opportunities to know people. |
| B．By helping us stay connected with the contemporary world. |
| C．By allowing us to understand the world the way they see it. |
| D．By enabling us to tell reality from imagination. |
| A．The History of Storytelling |
| B．The Power of Storytelling |
| C．The Forms of Storytelling |
| D．The Art of Storytelling |
6 . Getting the “side-eye” look from your dog can make it seem like they are making a judgement about you, and some new studies suggest they really could be.
The ability to judge others’ intentions is an indicator of possessing “theory of mind” which was once thought to be unique to humans. However, new studies have shown that dogs can read human behaviour and have a preference to people who are more friendly or generous with food.
One such study published in 2023 aimed to see if dogs can tell the difference between humans who are “unwilling” or “unable” to give them a treat. 96 dogs were involved in both “unwilling” and “unable” scenarios (情境) designed for the study. Both scenarios involved a dog being placed on one side of a glass screen with small holes in it at nose-height, and an experimenter standing on the other. In the ‘unwilling’ scenario, the experimenter would hang a piece of sausage in front of the screen in a ‘teasing’ (戏耍的) manner, and approach one of the holes. But instead of passing it through the hole to the dog, they would then pull it out of its reach. For the “unable” scenario, the experimenter would again move the treat towards the hole while the dog watched, but “accidentally” drop it before they could pass it through.
The researchers observed that the dogs were much more patient, making more eye contact and staying closer to the screen after the “unable” scenario played out. In the “unwilling” scenario, however, the dogs looked at the experimenter less often, sat, lay down and wandered around more frequently.
Another study from 2021 tested for “theory of mind” in dogs in a similar way, but the dogs were able to walk round the screen to obtain the treat after witnessing the experimenter’s “unwilling” or “unable” behaviour. The main finding was that the dogs approached the experimenter significantly sooner in the unable scenario than in the unwilling scenario.
However, the researchers of the 2023 study challenged that the food dropped on the floor in the clumsy (笨拙的) manner might have motivated the dogs to approach the experimenter considering that they probably often obtain food dropped on the floor in their daily lives.
Now, more evidence has been provided that dogs distinguish between similar actions associated with different intentions. But how exactly they acquire such intention-reading abilities will be an exciting topic for future research.
1. What is one of the new research findings according to Paragraph 2?| A．Dogs also have “theory of mind”. |
| B．Dogs prefer food from generous people. |
| C．Human behaviours are mostly intentional. |
| D．Friendly animals can get food more easily. |
| A．They acted awkwardly while feeding the dog. |
| B．They pretended to walk slowly away from the dog. |
| C．They teased the dog by fixing the treat to the screen. |
| D．They pulled the sausage beyond the dog’s reach. |
| A．By moving closer to the experimenter. |
| B．By keeping wandering around. |
| C．By ignoring the experimenter. |
| D．By lying still on the floor |
| A．The dogs can watch the experimenter. |
| B．The dogs can go to the other side of the screen. |
| C．The dogs’ responses are under close observation. |
| D．The dogs’ habitual behaviours are under analysis. |
| A．Dogs can tell “being friendly” from “being mean” |
| B．Dogs’ intelligence is gradually evolving. |
| C．Dogs’ intentions can be easily identified. |
| D．Dogs are a lot more emotional than other animals. |
7 . I looked through the window of the charming little violin shop, and my heart began to race.
I'd been out to dinner that evening. Since it wasn't dark yet after the meal, I decided to walk home from the restaurant. I had traveled that way before, yet I had never noticed that old little shop. But that night I felt drawn to the violin shop the moment I came across it.
I wiped the dirt from the window to get a better look inside. Several violins hung from the dark walls, quietly waiting to be chosen. As my eyes rested on them, I felt as though I were looking through a window into my own past.
My childhood was all about the pursuits I had attempted, most of which had been chosen by Mom. She was like, “Join the swim team, Tara. Your sister is a good swimmer;surely you will be, too. ”What she refused to acknowledge, however, was that I was visibly afraid of water.
Every Saturday I begged Mom not to make me go to the swim meet, but had little chance of success. That said, with a bang of the starting gun, I would dive into the cold water with all my strength and swim to the other side of the pool as fast as I could, only to find that the other swimmers slid past me. I would have given it up if I had not heard my father's encouraging shouts to cheer me on. When at last my hand would grab the edge of the pool, he would always be there with a warm, dry towel, telling me how proud he was of my desperate efforts.
Then came a turning point in my life the day our school orchestra( 管弦乐队)visited my class, and gave a demonstration. The drums annoyed me. The flutes(笛子)bored me. But the violin…ah, the violin. It made the sweetest sound I'd ever heard!My heart was dancing along with its flowing tune. For the first time in my life, I went so wild with joy.
Tightly holding the permission slip from the orchestra director, I ran all the way home after school, and shakily handed it to my parents with a fear that they might dismiss my desire. They didn't. Mom was thrilled to see me finally excited about something, and Dad winked(眨眼示意)at me while eagerly signing the slip.
I began practicing the violin with great passion, and rose quickly in ability. Before long I had won the first seat in the community orchestra …
1. What did the sight of the violins in that little shop bring to Tara's mind?| A．Her miserable past. |
| B．An unforgettable sport event. |
| C．The stories behind the violins. |
| D．Her childhood memory. |
| A．mindless and bad-tempered |
| B．caring and supportive |
| C．strict and demanding |
| D．tolerant and sympathetic |
| A．The tune of the flutes. |
| B．The beat of the drums. |
| C．The sound of the violin. |
| D．The manner of the musicians. |
| A．The steady improvement in her taste. |
| B．Her strong desire for success. |
| C．Her natural gift for music. |
| D．The rapid progress in her ability. |
| A．It's never too young to learn. |
| B．A passionate interest works wonders. |
| C．Hard work will pay off in the long run. |
| D．Like mother, like daughter. |
8 . Welcome to UCLA Exchange Program! Let’s get started by checking out Student Guide for your academic journey!
Signing up for ESL (English as a Second Language)
ESL courses are designed to help international students improve academic English language skills. Enrollment (课程注册) priority is given to degree students. If space is available, you may enroll. You will then be asked to take an ESL Placement Test. The test results will help you choose the class that is appropriate for you.
Changing Your Course Enrollment List
You may change your class schedule during the first two weeks of the term by adding or dropping courses from your enrollment list. After the second week of classes, there will be a charge for each schedule change. Students often attend classes in which they are not enrolled on the first day of instruction to try adding this new course to the list, as other students may have dropped it.
Withdrawing from Courses
If you choose to drop a course, you must follow the UCLA procedures for removing it from your schedule. If you forget to officially drop that course, a “F” (Fail) grade will be registered on your record at the end of the term. If, at a later date, you wish to apply for a job or graduate school where an official copy of your UCLA record is required, it will be to your advantage to provide an impressive academic record.
Taking Exams
Some instructors choose to put previous test papers on library reserve, making them available to all students. These exams, which students commonly use for practice, can give you an idea of how instructors ask questions and what they regard as relevant material. You can also access the exams online.
1. Exchange students can enroll in the ESL course if they ________.| A．have done well in the placement test |
| B．are asked to improve their English skills |
| C．find a vacancy after degree students’ enrollment |
| D．have completed UCLA’s registration procedures |
| A．improve the students’ language skills |
| B．encourage the students to answer questions |
| C．put the students in a class that fits them |
| D．help the students apply for a degree |
| A．The day when the class is full. |
| B．The first day of instruction. |
| C．The first week of the class. |
| D．The end of the second week. |
| A．Seek assistance from UCLA officials. |
| B．Go through the procedures to drop it. |
| C．Present past academic records to UCLA. |
| D．Make a request to the Registration Office. |
| A．imitate the way that their instructors write test questions |
| B．learn how questions are asked and what they are based on |
| C．come up with new ideas about how testing relates to teaching |
| D．narrow down to what has not yet been covered in online tests |
9 . There are moments when strangers’ lives collide(碰撞)by accident, and even though they may never see each other again, they’ re changed forever. These can be moments when true character is
Not long ago, I was a(n)
Just then, a young boy, Mecca, arrived at the
Within seconds of the Snickers replacing the protein bar, the man regained
No one could have guessed that earlier that night, Mecca had just been through a
When we told Mecca's parents of his
As time goes on, I remain
| A．created | B．revealed | C．introduced | D．preserved |
| A．witness | B．visitor | C．match | D．exception |
| A．caught | B．confirmed | C．gotten off | D．put off |
| A．safely | B．accidentally | C．casually | D．immediately |
| A．get across | B．figure out | C．take down | D．bring up |
| A．medical | B．financial | C．educational | D．military |
| A．recalled | B．determined | C．admitted | D．guaranteed |
| A．Instead | B．Therefore | C．Otherwise | D．However |
| A．worried | B．confused | C．embarrassed | D．annoyed |
| A．station | B．destination | C．scene | D．department |
| A．chaos | B．possession | C．habit | D．direction |
| A．gave away | B．set aside | C．pulled out | D．kept off |
| A．memory | B．appetite | C．independence | D．consciousness |
| A．risked | B．saved | C．sacrificed | D．respected |
| A．proper | B．tough | C．enjoyable | D．mysterious |
| A．forcing | B．urging | C．reminding | D．permitting |
| A．guilty | B．anxious | C．sensitive | D．doubtful |
| A．modest | B．ambitious | C．heroic | D．confident |
| A．flight | B．operation | C．performance | D．emergency |
| A．relieved | B．puzzled | C．frustrated | D．inspire |
10 . Most people with good sense would accept that we can and should learn from accidental failures. It would be impossible to progress in anything, after all, without taking the occasional misstep. And by understanding how we slipped, we can avoid falling in the future.
Few would advocate making intentional mistakes, however. Yet consciously erring (犯错) can promote deeper understanding and better recall. The phenomenon is known as the derring effect — coming from “deliberate (故意的) erring” — and when applied properly, it may bring benefits in many unexpected areas of life.
In one experiment carried out at the National University of Singapore, participants were given the task of learning concepts on a difficult subject. For some terms, they simply copied out the correct definition; for others, they were asked to first add an error in their description of the term before correcting the mistake.
Naturally, you would expect the addition of the errors to have increased unwanted confusion. Yet the exact opposite was true: the participants who made deliberate errors learned about twice as much as the people who simply copied out the correct definitions.
The derring effect could be applied in other situations. So a music teacher may find the addition of deliberate errors could help a student remember the right musical notes. Such a playful approach could fuel their creativity for composition, if the student looks for ways to develop those wrong notes into something more attractive. It is encouraging to discover that by readily accepting our errors and wisely placing ourselves in the way of being wrong, we can in fact overcome weaknesses and rise stronger.
The derring effect could be useful for many other challenges too. If you enjoy cooking, for example, you may faithfully follow a recipe without questioning the instructions. But why not try to break away from those habits and deliberately do the “wrong” thing for a change, and see where your derring takes you? If you are painting,meanwhile,you could relax one of the constraints (限制) that you usually put on your work and see what you produce.
At worst, you will have refreshed and deepened your knowledge of the rules you normally apply, so that you can be even more effective next time. At best, you may just find that you have discovered something completely new and unexpected, through a flash of inspiration that you would have missed with perfectionism. Either way, your apparent missteps will have moved you a little closer to true mastery.
1. In Paragraph 1, the author presents ____________.| A．a routine warning |
| B．a popular misbelief |
| C．a commonly-held view |
| D．a theoretical assumption |
| A．Adding intentional errors facilitates learning. |
| B．Correcting mistakes is the key to learning. |
| C．Errors contribute to confusion in learning. |
| D．Learners make fewer errors in difficult subjects. |
| A．disappointing performances |
| B．greater creative power |
| C．the discovery of problems |
| D．the admission of weaknesses |
| A．Strictly follow traditional recipes when cooking. |
| B．Avoid making mistakes and be a perfectionist. |
| C．Occasionally ignore traffic regulations. |
| D．Try unconventional coloring in painting. |
| A．The Challenge of Derring |
| B．Erring Prevents Failure |
| C．To Err is Fruitful |
| D．Errors: Accidental or Intentional |
