1 . ChatGPT is an amazing artificial intelligence tool that has recently been released, along with other mind-blowing generative AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E. These tools have the potential to revolutionize the way we create digital content, making it faster and cheaper.
However, there is a downside to these AI tools that cannot be ignored. What happens when they start replacing copywriters, journalists, customer service agents, and digital marketers? For years, experts have been warning that AI could threaten white-collar jobs, which were once considered safe from automation. Some even predict that up to 47 percent of jobs in the US could be at risk.
While no one can say for sure whether generative AI will cause mass job loss among highly educated workers, it is clear that it has the potential to disrupt the employment landscape. Tasks that were once considered impossible to automate are now becoming automatable. Whether or not jobs are removed, the essence of these jobs is likely to change.
Companies will always choose machines over humans when they can, and AI has the ability to perform tasks currently done by copywriters, digital content producers, and other professionals. This means that these jobs may soon undergo significant changes. However, it is important to note that AI cannot replace certain aspects of these jobs. It cannot conduct interviews, find historical documents, or assess the quality of studies. It lacks authority, understanding, and the ability to correct itself or generate genuinely new ideas.
This implies that while AI may create a vast amount of simpler content, it could also make original journalism more valuable and investigative journalists more productive. AI may be able to generate listicles and summaries of public meetings, but it is humans who will write in-depth stories. Experts believe that AI will ultimately help people use their expertise more effectively, and allow them to focus on areas where human intelligence is crucial.
While there is a risk that AI technologies could lead to sudden changes in the labor market, it is important to recognize the benefits of having such technology.
1. What’s the potential impact of generative AI tools on the employment market?A.They may offer jobs faster and cheaper. |
B.They may make the nature of certain jobs different. |
C.They may cause mass job loss for white collars. |
D.They may revolutionize the way digital content is created. |
A.By making positions more valuable. |
B.By making their jobs more irreplaceable. |
C.By removing the need for human expertise. |
D.By enabling them to specialize in some key fields. |
A.AI has few benefits for employment. |
B.AI is bound to take the place of mankind in the future. |
C.AI can’t be completely independent of human wisdom. |
D.AI can’t create genuinely new ideas or simpler content. |
A.They should be further perfected. |
B.They should be accepted despite their risks. |
C.They should be avoided to protect white-collar jobs. |
D.They should be controlled to prevent mass job loss. |
2 . Making a difference in someone’s life is a rewarding experience. During my time in college, I landed my first real
After a year of working every weekend, I decided to leave and
The sincere
A.job | B.dream | C.goal | D.chance |
A.managers | B.employees | C.passengers | D.customers |
A.judged | B.ordered | C.admired | D.promoted |
A.end up | B.strike up | C.turn up | D.make up |
A.presented | B.rejected | C.received | D.ignored |
A.satisfying | B.surprising | C.challenging | D.encouraging |
A.hiding | B.making | C.breaking | D.accepting |
A.amused | B.shocked | C.disappointed | D.guilty |
A.delighted | B.bitter | C.calm | D.sad |
A.importance | B.hope | C.future | D.mistake |
A.Meanwhile | B.However | C.Moreover | D.Therefore |
A.talent | B.kindness | C.courage | D.creativity |
A.confusion | B.trouble | C.pleasure | D.fortune |
A.appreciation | B.devotion | C.education | D.inspiration |
A.admit | B.bear | C.expect | D.witness |
3 . A new international organization, ReShark, including partners from 15 countries and 44 aquariums, is challenging the shark statistics. According to National Geographic, ReShark’s goal is to release 500 endangered zebra sharks in Indonesian waters to increase a wild population that is on the edge of extinction. This is the first-ever attempt to reintroduce captive sharks into the wild.
Marine reintroductions present significant challenges due to the complexity and shortage of ocean life, as well as the difficulty in managing threats, according to National Geographic. Team ReShark understands that the reintroduction may go up in smoke. Unlike land animals that have been successfully reintroduced in the past, such as giant pandas in China, young sharks are more likely to suffer from diseases and be killed by other animals, and they struggle to find food on their own.
Sharks have a remarkable history as one of the oldest vertebrate species, surviving five mass extinctions over a period of 420 million years. They play an important role in marine ecosystems by influencing the ocean’s food chains. However, they are now facing the second-highest rate of disappearance. Research shows that more than 37 percent of the shark species are at risk of extinction due to overfishing, both legal and illegal. Sharks are hunted for their meat. Nearly 100 million sharks are killed by human hands each year, according to the organization Sentient Media.
Despite the alarming decline in shark populations globally, top shark scientists are hopeful that ReShark’s efforts will succeed. Given these challenges, Simon Fraser University ecologist Dulvy initially had some doubts about ReShark’s plans. However, after asking some questions, he was surprised by what the initiative could produce. “This initiative is different,” Dulvy explained. Similarly, Rima Jabado, Dulvy’s successor, recognized ReShark as a unique project that could provide a lifeline for endangered shark species. “It may provide an opportunity for species not to go extinct,” she said.
1. What’s the ReShark’s intention of releasing sharks?A.To conduct shark data collection. |
B.To study the living habits of sharks. |
C.To save the endangered shark species. |
D.To test new ways of keeping sharks. |
A.Disappear. | B.Fail. | C.Work. | D.Influence. |
A.By giving examples. | B.By giving descriptions. |
C.By making comparison. | D.By making classifications. |
A.Special and promising. | B.Hopeful and effortless. |
C.Risky and costly. | D.Doubtful and immature. |
4 . In an increasingly globalized business world, companies demand Human Resources (HR) leaders who can overcome cultural barriers to achieve key goals. This year, students in the Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations (MHRIR) Program will get hands-on experience leading multicultural teams as they work together with peers (同辈) from all corners of the globe.
“Our students get firsthand experience on global teams, which helps them understand the challenges and the opportunities they will face in the business world,” said MHRIR Program Director Stacy Hove.
Elishka Correa joined the program to explore how HR leaders can help businesses grow quickly in the global marketplace. “Companies appreciate diversity — not only in terms of products and markets, but the people they hire — so that they can expand their business and reach customers in different parts of the world,” she said. “When I go into an organization, I’m not only going to work with Indians or Americans, it’s going to be a mix of people. That trend is beginning to grow, so I think it’s very important to appreciate people from different backgrounds.”
As they progress through the program, the students are discovering unexpected challenges as they work on projects in diverse teams. Each contributor brings a different approach to solving problems, communicating, and challenging one another’s opinions.
Devin Roll, a student from North Dakota, appreciating the unique views his classmates share, said, “The benefits of having cross-cultural experiences go far beyond the classroom. Diverse teams and companies outperform their competitors, and HR leaders act as a vital partner in acquiring and maintaining diversity in the workforce.”
Many of the international students in the program said they would return to their home countries after graduation and bring along connections to their classmates, who would build careers (职业) in countries around the world. They hope to stay in touch, and share their expert knowledge.
1. What is the aim of the program?A.To help students to set clear goals. |
B.To provide jobs for foreign students. |
C.To teach students to run their own business. |
D.To train students to build multicultural teams. |
A.It prevents social advance. | B.It makes it easy to hire people. |
C.It can help business growth. | D.It can put an end to the conflict. |
A.It is predictable. | B.It is short-lived. | C.It is unidentifiable. | D.It is far-reaching. |
A.Work for the university. | B.Keep closely connected. |
C.Stay in their home countries. | D.Reform teaching methods. |
5 . It’s not great when a person breathes in all the oxygen out of a room. When a battery does it to a tumor (肿瘤), though, it could be a good thing.
Scientists have developed a new type of battery that can be implanted (植入) directly into tumors to deliver a steady stream of electricity. The battery is made from salt water and can be recharged by the body’s own heat. It works by splitting (使分离) salt water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen gas is then used to generate electricity, which can be used to kill cancer cells. The oxygen gas is released harmlessly into the body.
The new battery has several advantages over traditional cancer treatment. First, it is more targeted, meaning that it can deliver the electricity directly to the tumor cells, while sparing healthy cells. This can reduce the side effects of treatment. Second, the battery is self-charging, which means that it does not require surgery to remove or replace. This can make treatment more convenient and less expensive for patients. Third, the battery is small and lightweight, and it can be implanted directly into tumors. This means that patients will not have to need surgery to remove the battery, which can reduce the risk of complications.
The battery has been tested in animal studies, and it has been shown to be effective in killing cancer cells. The scientists who developed the battery are now planning to begin clinical trials in humans. They are thinking about how the battery might have to be made more flexible and more powerful to work on human-sized tumors. If the trials are successful, the battery could become a new standard of cancer treatment. It is a more targeted, convenient, and affordable way to deliver electricity to tumors. This could lead to more effective ways to treat cancer in humans.
1. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us about the new battery?A.Its benefits. | B.Its side effects. | C.Its weight. | D.Its working process. |
A.Test the treatment in humans. | B.Reduce the cost of surgery. |
C.Implant the battery into animals. | D.Make the battery affordable. |
A.Negative. | B.Uncaring. | C.Optimistic. | D.Unclear. |
A.Business. | B.Science. | C.Education. | D.Sports. |
6 . Lena Mars and her parents had taken a trip to Costa Rica. While enjoying one of the country’s many beautiful beaches, the girl’s parents gave her a snack. But it turned out that she wasn’t the only one who was hungry: A wild iguana (鬣蜥) appeared unexpectedly as the girl at e her cake by the water. The iguana ran up to the girl and bit her on the back of her left middle finger, causing her to drop the cake. The animal then ran off with the snack, but it did leave something else behind.
The Mars immediately took the girl to a local clinic, where a doctor disinfected the wound with alcohol and gave her some antibiotics (抗生素). The wound appeared to have cleared up in about two weeks. It was five months later, when Lena’s parents noticed a coin-sized bump (肿块) on her hand in the same spot causing mild pain, that they thought they should take her to another doctor.
The doctor removed the 2-centimeter mass and took a closer look at the growth in the lab and discovered that the child had a rare infection that more commonly causes a tuberculosis-like illness in fish. It’s ubiquitous in fresh and salt water but rarely infects humans. Typically, when humans are infected, it’s after a wound has been exposed to the bacteria in water.
Most antibiotics alone don’t work on these kinds of infections, so the doctor gave the girl a different medical treatment often used for skin infections. She responded well to the treatment.
“Generally, iguanas will go about their day. But like any wildlife, if they start associating people with food, they’re going to risk coming closer.” said Anna Meyer, operations manager at a zoo in Florida. “The lesson here is that no one should feed wildlife, because they will most likely give you a bite.”
1. What can we learn about Lena Mars?A.She tried to feed an animal. | B.She was bitten by an iguana. |
C.She left the cake on the beach. | D.She found a rare wild animal. |
A.The antibiotics were harmful. | B.They distrusted the first doctor. |
C.Her wound became infected. | D.She took the medicine wrongly. |
A.Common. | B.Dangerous. | C.Lively. | D.Useful. |
A.It is good for wildlife. | B.It puts animals in danger. |
C.It is a risky behavior. | D.It gets us close to nature. |
7 . A few days before New Year 1944, Patricia Krueger received a telegram from the U. S. Army. She hoped it would contain a belated birthday greeting from her husband, an army flight engineer, Charles Krueger, whom she had not heard from for 2 weeks. Instead, the message said he wasn’t coming home: His B-29 had been lost and he was later declared MIA (missing in action). Their son, John Krueger from Middleton, Wisconsin, is still in tears when he recounts this story.
Decades later, the military continues to work to bring back the remains of soldiers like Charles Krueger. The job of finding them falls to DPAA (Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency), created in 2015 after critics charged that the previous MIA search process was slow, and behind on innovations in science and technology. Between 1973 and 2014, the remains of only 1,849 missing service member s were returned to their families; in 2021, the agency accounted for the remains of 141 MIAs; according to DPAA figures.
To accelerate the work, Congress gave DPAA the authority to develop public-private partnerships with scientists and groups outside the government. “Teaming up with academic scientists introduces new ways of thinking,” says military historian Michael Dolski. “Working with partners allows us to tap into their technologies and capabilities in ways that we just can’t maintain.”
For scientists, the work is more than technically satisfying. “It’s the most rewarding aspect of my career,” says Mires, a scientist working with the agency. “In other archaeology sites I’ve worked on, the history is remote,” he says. “Here, you’re doing something not for a thing, but for a person, and all the people they touched.”
1. What was the telegram about in paragraph 1?A.A New Year dinner. | B.Krueger’s disappearance. |
C.A birthday greeting. | D.John Krueger’s memory. |
A.Because DPAA wants to continue the search. |
B.Because it took long and lacked creativeness. |
C.Because the work was stopped by the military. |
D.Because 141 MIAs’ remains were found in 2021. |
A.Patient. | B.Critical. | C.Doubtful. | D.Approving. |
A.A long search for MIAs. | B.Achievements of DPAA. |
C.Assistance from science. | D.Consequences of wars. |
8 . Joey Hudicka began his business journey by creating a strategy game called Puckz when he was just 10 years old, by combining two of his favorite interests — strategy games like checkers, and sports like ice hockey. Seeing the amazing experiences unfold for her big brother, Heidi Hudicka set out to create her own first business, a fashion clothing line for her 18 dolls.
But one day, Joey and Heidi met after school and experienced a real breakthrough. “I was telling Joey I was asking friends if they would like me to outsource (外包) the sewing of my designs to them, since it is not really my favorite part of that business, but none of my friends understood what I meant by outsourcing,” recalls Heidi.
“When Heidi told me what happened after school that day I was like, ‘Yeah! I have the same problem.’ Most kids just don’t understand when we talk about our business, or even why it is important to understand how businesses work,” says Joey. “And that’s when we decided to do something about it, to create a fun and engaging way to teach more kids about the power of their creativity through innovation and business.”
Joey and Heidi, along with their parents, founded Fizzee Labs, and began creating engaging learning resources such as Outta This World, a board game that activates your imagination by applying it to invent amazing new products or experiences, in a fast-paced, competitive format.
“Outta This World is a journey through the depths of outer space. You have brought very limited supplies with you on your mission, and you must creatively repurpose these supplies, transforming them into brand-new products or experiences that can be sold to the different civilizations you will meet along your journey, raising the funds you need to reach your destination!” describes Joey.
1. What motivated Heidi to start her first business?A.Her brother’s previous success. | B.Her eagerness for fortune. |
C.Her passion for strategy games. | D.Her parents’ suggestion and support. |
A.To understand how businesses work. |
B.To create a board game about outer space. |
C.To outsource the sewing of their clothing line. |
D.To teach kids about the power of creativity and business. |
A.Addressing the business problems. |
B.Raising funds for a space mission. |
C.Developing interesting learning resources. |
D.Encouraging imagination and inventiveness. |
A.Two Great Teenagers Making History |
B.A Strategy Board Game Popular with Teenagers |
C.A Breakthrough in Teaching Kids about Business |
D.An Innovative Way of Being Successful in Business |
9 . In the summer of 2019, Tomas Quinones was undertaking a seven-day “bikepacking” trip, covering some remote desert in Southern Oregon, US. His trip had been marked with the usual minor troubles. But there had also been those moments of unexpected kindness from strangers.
On the last day of his trip, he was riding down a dusty track when he came upon a man lying unconscious on the desert floor. Quinones tried to give him some water with little success. Luckily, he called the emergency rescue team and an ambulance arrived within an hour. “I never had a doubt about what I would do,” he said. Quinones, who’d received some gestures of help over the course of his trip, paid it forward.
The odds are, if you’ve spent any time in the wild, you’ll have experienced these gestures of kindness from strangers or given them yourself too even if they were nothing so dramatic as the aid given by Quinones.
So what is it about being outside in nature that makes people want to help others? The first explanation is that in the wild, there may not be any other help. According to the “bystander effect”, the more people who are in the presence of someone needing help, the less likely any of those people are to actually provide it.
But another idea is that there is something about nature itself that seems to promote “prosocial” attitudes. As a recent study suggests, exposure to nature can promote feelings of transcendence-a sense of connection to other people, to the world around us and to the universe.
When we take adventure into the wild, we are easy to get hurt. And that makes us look at the world differently. So, in the wild, where we lose our normal possessions, surroundings and identities, we seem more willing to go the extra mile for someone. It’s in nature that we can learn new things about humanity.
1. What can we know about Tomas Quinones’ trip in 2019?A.He passed on the kindness he’d received. | B.He was saved by a fellow traveler. |
C.He got tost for some time in the desert | D.He came across unexpected dangers. |
A.To suggest the unstoppable power of nature. | B.To highlight the risks of traveling alone. |
C.To introduce a common phenomenon. | D.To question connections between people. |
A.They might offer help immediately. | B.They might be unwilling to help. |
C.They might encourage others to help. | D.They might blame the person in need. |
A.Exposure to nature boosts our confidence. |
B.We are more clear-headed in natural environments. |
C.Fear promotes our desire for connection with nature. |
D.Feeling small in the wild makes us tend to act big. |
10 . For his entire life, Sergio Peralta from the US dreamed about playing catch. When he was born, his right hand didn’t fully develop, with only tiny fingers at the end of his arm. So he learned to write, eat and carry books with only one hand. Over the years, the 15-year-old lost hope that anything would change.
Peralta said on his first day of high school he honestly felt like hiding his hand in his sleeve, so nobody would ever find out. But his classmates, to his surprise, supported him in a way he never expected. The school’s engineering teacher, Jeff Wilkins, came and told him that his fellow students might be able to help.
“They ended up offering, ‘We could build your prosthetic (假体的) hand,’ and I never expected it,” he told CBS News. “Like, never in a million years.” Three students used their access to online models of prostheses and a 3D printer to make a plan. After four weeks, their project came to fruition. They used polylactic acid (聚乳酸), a common material in 3D printing that’s also used to make electronic devices, as the hand’s main fabric. They applied another plastic material commonly found in phone shells to make the fingers spread and squeeze objects. And they added a fishing line, so Peralta could fix the hand to his forearm.
Bob Cotter, the principal of Hendersonville High School, told the BBC that his students are encouraged to turn concepts “into reality”, adding that Peralta’s new prosthesis is “a proof to the students who care about each other”.
Peralta-who grew up learning to do everything with his left hand-was even able to catch a baseball with the prosthetic hand created by his classmates. “When I caught it for the first time, everyone started freaking out.” Peralta said with a smile. “It was the first time I caught a ball with my right hand in my IS years.”
1. How did Sergio feel about his hand when he started high school?A.He felt at a loss for it. | B.He felt unaffected by it |
C.He was optimistic about it. | D.He was open to accepting it |
A.It was finished in four months. | B.It could be controlled by a phone. |
C.Its main material is polylactic acid. | D.Its fingers were not flexible enough. |
A.The students’ critical thinking. | B.The students’ imagination. |
C.The students’ determination. | D.The students’ mutual support. |
A.Feeling panicked. | B.Becoming overjoyed. |
C.Calming down. | D.Showing concern. |