3 . The world has changed greatly since Herman Fisher met Irving Price and Helen Schelle in 1930. The trio (三人组) founded Fisher-Price, maker of popular toy series such as Thomas & Friends, Power Wheels, and Little People. Companies like Fisher-Price are exploring how the world of toys and parenting will change with the development of technology. Fisher-Price recently cooperated with Continuum, a global innovation designer. Together, they created a short video called The Future of Parenting, along with a short essay explaining the thoughts behind the video.

One thought of the video explores how parenting will change when the teens of today raised with data-providing devices such as Fitbit and iPad begin raising kids of their own. Is this a generation that will desire data in all of their kids’ toys? The answer may be “yes” and perhaps the product appearing in the video will appeal to them.

If you interpret the video as a clear vision of the future of parenting, you won’t be blamed for fearing holograms (全息图) will take over your house as a mom or dad. The benefit of holograms in the video is their potential for giving traditional toys the ability to personalize responses, depending on the age and development of the child playing with the traditional toy.

Of course, you might ask yourself, “Do data-providing toys have an advantage over traditional toys in terms of their effects?” The answer may be negative. Lego, a traditional brick toy-maker, on all counts remains a successful company. And studies point out its toys’ benefits to children’s creativity. In addition, recent research demonstrates that toys containing data can potentially prevent language development, compared with traditional puzzles and bricks.

On the one hand, parents know that they should limit their kids’ screen time to keep them healthy, and the American Academy of Pediatrics offers guidance on daily screen time. On the other hand, technology can be wonderfully engaging and can provide excellent educational opportunities for children. Nothing is perfect and we should embrace every aspect of a new thing.

1. What are companies like Fisher-Price currently exploring?

A．The impact of technological advances on toys and parenting.

B．The way to be an outstanding global innovation designer.

C．New ideas of making short videos of creative toys.

D．Techniques used to produce popular toy series.

2. According to the author, teenagers raised with data-providing devices may ___________.

A．be fond of devoting themselves to improving technology

B．be afraid of the negative impact of electronic toys

C．pass their preference for such toys on to their kids

D．show great creativity and imagination

3. What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.

B．Comparisons of the effects of two kinds of toys.

C．Suggestions on how to choose suitable toys.

D．Advances in technology used to make toys.

4. What does the author want to show at the end of the text?

A．Love me, love my dog.

B．Actions speak louder than words.

C．Everything is a two-edged sword.

D．Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

4 . This week, Google researchers published a paper describing results from an AI tool built to create music. The tool, called MusicLM, is not the first AI music tool to be launched. But the examples Google provided demonstrate musical creative ability based on a limited set of descriptive words.

Several different music examples produced by MusicLM were published online. Some of the generated music came from just one- or two-word descriptions, such as “jazz”, “rock” or “techno (高科技舞曲)”. The tool also created other examples from more detailed descriptions containing whole sentences.

In one example, Google researchers included these instructions to MusicLM, “It is a soundtrack of a game. It is fast-paced and upbeat, with a catchy electric guitar riff (反复乐节). The music is repetitive and easy to remember, but with unexpected sounds ...” In the resulting recording, the music seemed to keep very close to the description. The team said the more detailed the description was, the better the system could attempt to produce it.

The MusicLM model operates similarly to the machine-learning systems used by ChatGPT. ChatGPT and MusicLM both require powerful computers to operate complex machine-learning models. The San Francisco-based company OpenAI launched ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT has recently received a lot of attention because of its ability to generate complex writings and other content from just a simple description in natural languages. Such tools can produce human-like results because they are trained on huge amounts of data. Many different materials are fed into the systems to permit them to learn complex skills to create realistic works.

However, the MusicLM researchers said there were some risks linked to the new tool. One of the biggest issues the researchers identified was biases (偏好) present in the training data. A bias might be including too much of one side and not enough of the other. The researchers said this raised a question about appropriateness for music generation for cultures underrepresented in the training data.

1. What can we learn about MusicLM?

A．It is the first AI music tool to be launched.

B．It requires detailed descriptions of full sentences.

C．It creates music based on simple descriptive words.

D．It generates complex writings from a simple description.

2. What is the similarity between ChatGPT and MusicLM?

A．They can take the place of musicians.	B．They have gained commercial success.
C．They don't have any practical use in life.	D．They are based on huge amounts of data.

3. Which of the following is an issue of the MusicLM model?

A．Creating music with strong biases.	B．Requiring too much training data.
C．Being difficult for some people to use.	D．Producing music works with no creativity.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．The future of humans with AI	B．A new AI tool to make music
C．Music created by some AI tools	D．AI and its function in culture development

5 . A huge number of exchange programs and summer school programs are offered to international students around foreign universities worldwide. Today we explain the top student exchange programs -and -summer programs offered to foreign students.

Vienna Summer School

Vienna Summer School provides an incredible opportunity for 30 bachelor-level students to research side by side with world top researchers in the field of bioengineering. This paid summer program aims to attract international students and create an excellent research environment. This is a perfect opportunity for those students who are interested in the field of life science. The duration of Vienna Summer School is from Saturday, July 1 to August 28,2023.

SUSI Student Leaders Program

Bachelor-level students in Pakistan who are interested in the topic of public, local, state and federal policy making are invited to study in the USA through the short-tern SUSI student program 2023 held at the University of Massachusetts. This is an exchange program for Pakistani students. All expenses and accommodation costs will be covered by SUSI, so the application period is very short.

Hansen Leadership Exchange Program

The Hansen Summer Institute for Leadership is now open for the summer exchange program 2023. The Hansen summer program offers the opportunity to the USA and international students to build better leadership skills and a cultural understanding environment for the future. This 3-week summer exchange program is open for undergraduate, graduate,and doctoral students with any academic background.

IWP Summer Exchange Program

IWP Summer Exchange Program 2023 is a two-week writing and culture exchange program for Pakistani and Indian students in Iowa City, USA. The applicant from 18 to 22 from these countries with a background in art humanities is welcome to apply. This program will focus on creativity and is free for the selected applicants. The selected candidates will work together on the creation of paintings and sculptures.

1. Which program suits students who like biology?

A．Vienna Summer School.

B．SUSI Student Leaders Program.

C．IWP Summer Exchange Program.

D．Hansen Leadership Exchange Program.

2. Why should students apply for SUSI Student Leaders Program early?

A．It is fully funded.

B．It is a short-term program.

C．It is limited to postgraduates.

D．It is supported by the government.

3. What will students in IWP Summer Exchange Program do?

A．Offer policy advice.	B．Conduct research.
C．Write academic papers.	D．Create artworks.

7 . How Did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die?

On November 20th, 1791, Mozart suddenly came down with fever and was wracked with pain. His arms and legs were severely swollen. In the following days his health significantly deteriorated. He died on December 5 after lapsing into a coma. The death certificate states he died of “severe miliary fever”. Exactly which disease led to Mozart’s death has been a mystery for the last 200 years.

Speculations

Many myths —some more plausible than others — entwine (缠绕) Mozart’s early demise. One of the most popular myths — that Mozart was poisoned by his rival Antonio Salieri — rose to prominence due to the popularity of the film Amadeus. This theory is supported by the fact that Mozart had been living through a phase of depression before his death, suffering from paranoia and existential fear. Mozart himself suspected that the cause of his deteriorating health was being poisoned over a long time. However, it is highly likely that this was just his subjective view of reality.

Many other speculations circulate. Syphilis and trichinellosis are frequently mentioned. In 1905, a French physician assumed uric acid poisoning due to a never fully healed nephritis. In 1961, lead poisoning was suggested as a possible cause of death.

Scientific attempts to explain Mozart’s death

In 2000, a group of American scientists proposed rheumatic fever caused by a strep infection after conducting meticulous detective work. The symptoms stated in literature and the reports of Mozart’s contemporaries yielded the clues. Without antibiotics, such an infection would inevitably lead to death. Rheumatic fever causes a weakening of the heart, which could explain Mozart’s swollen limbs.

In 2009, the Dutch scientist Richard Zegers extensively studied surviving documents and concluded that Mozart had been suffering from pharyngitis, a throat infection with symptoms including cramps, fever, rashes and a swollen neck. Mozart’s sister-in-law Sophie Haibel had described these symptoms. The death registry of Vienna for winter 1791 lists several deaths caused by this disease.

Whatever the cause of Mozart’s death, it came far too early. Let us thank him for his manic urge to create art and remember him on December 5th!

1. Which of the following is similar in meaning to the underlined word “deteriorate” (Paragraph 1)?

A．To become worse.	B．To change greatly.
C．To recover quickly.	D．To be harmed rapidly.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．It is generally believed that Mozart was poisoned by his friend.

B．Mozart’s depression paranoia and existential fear led to his death.

C．Mozart had been poisoned sustainably for a long time before he died.

D．Mozart once got a nephritis and it was never healed.

3. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Mozart’s disease was recorded in contemporary literature and reports.

B．Antibiotics were not discovered at that time.

C．Rheumatic fever can only be caused by strep infection.

D．Mozart’s illness cannot be cured even today.

4. What is the author’s purpose mentioning Mozart’s sister-in-law’s words?

A．To back up the Dutchman’s study.

B．To prove they were common symptoms causing death in 1791.

C．To prove Mozart did have such symptoms before his death.

D．To emphasize her special identify as a witness to Mozart’s death.

8 . How important has Internet become in our lives? The Pew Research Center conducted a survey to celebrate the Web’s 25th birthday. The researchers were greatly heartened by what they found.

“In 2006, only 14 percent of American adults used Internet. Today, it’s 87 percent,” said Lee Rainie, the director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project. “It is what has impressed us the most.”

The survey also showed that 70 percent of the Internet users have been treated kindly or generously online, while 25 percent of respondents said they have been treated unkindly. More than half—56 percent—of users said they’ve seen an online community come together to help someone solve a problem. 25 percent said they’ve left an online group because members were too unpleasant.

When Pew asked questions about whether being online has enriched people’s relationships—or not—the results were very positive: 67 percent of Internet users said their online communication with family and friends has generally strengthened those relationships. Only 18 percent said it has generally weakened those relationships.

According to the survey, 53 percent of Internet users said Internet has become the hardest tech tool to give up. It is 15 percent higher than the result of a similar survey conducted in 2006. In fact, more people said they would have a harder time stopping using Internet than giving up TV. (These days, so much great television streams across the Internet that it makes sense.)

“In our survey, we have found that the Web makes a few people very unhappy. There’s strong evidence pointing to the fact that Internet users tend to compare their daily lives with the ‘highlight moments’ of their friends’ lives,” said Lee Rainie. “It’s really silly.”

1. Which is the most impressive result of the latest survey?

A．Users’ dependence on Internet.	B．The fast growth of Internet users.
C．The kindness of online communities.	D．The strengthened family relationships.

2. How many participants found it the hardest to give up Internet in 2006?

A．15%.

B．38%.

C．53%.

D．68%.

3. What message does Lee Rainie seem to convey in the last paragraph?

A．Online depression cannot be avoided.	B．Don’t show off in online communities.
C．Don’t make unnecessary comparison.	D．Copy your friends’ wonderful lifestyles.

4. How do the researchers feel about the results of the survey?

A．Optimistic.

B．Worried.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Doubtful.

9 . Artwork Contest-Create a Character!

Are you an artist? Do you love testing your creative abilities? This may be the perfect contest for you! For this contest,we want you to create your own character. You must create a backstory for the character and give it a name make sure to leave these in the author’s notes section of your submission!

Your character must be completely original. Any character that is not created from your own idea and work will not be considered for the contest.

Rules:

·You must be a teen (aged 13-19) with a Teen Ink account to enter.

·No inappropriate content.

·Submissions must relate to the topic (Create a Character).

Guidelines and Details:

·All art mediums are accepted.

·There is no limit to the number of pieces you can submit.

·Give your character a name and backstory. Leave these in the “Author’s Comments”section of your submission.

How to Submit:

·Submit entries through our website. All entries submitted to Teen Ink are automatically considered for the contest. See our submission guidelines for more information. ·Include the words“Character Contest“ in your submission’s title.

·Submit your reviews to the “Artwork” category on our site. Select the art type that is relevant to what you are submitting.

Prizes:

·Honorable mentions will have their characters published in our magazine.

·The overall winner will receive a $ 200 Amazon gift card.

1. What is the requirement for your submission?

A．It must be original work.	B．It must be about your own life.
C．It must include a story of yourself.	D．It must include several characters.

2. Which of the following is there a limit to for your submission?

A．The form of art.	B．The age of a participant.
C．The number of pieces submitted.	D．The name given to your character.

3. What do we know about Teen Ink?

A．It’s a magazine.	B．It’s an art club.
C．It’s an art school.	D．It’s a student organization.

10 . Mickey Mouse welcomed visitors to his new home in China on June 16, 2016 as Disney opened its first theme park in the country.

The park, located in the city of Shanghai, opened with fireworks.

Joe Schott, president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, said, “I can promise you that there is still so much left to be revealed, and I cannot wait to share it all with you in the months and years to come.”

Tens of thousands streamed into Shanghai Disneyland for its debut(问世), an event that was nearly two decades in the making. The $ 5.5 billion resort(度假胜地) covers 963 acres, but Disney has already begun expansion.

Company officials said they tried to reflect Chinese preferences in the new park.

“We didn’t build Disneyland in China, we built China’s Disneyland,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s chairman.

There’s a traditional Chinese tea house featuring local food. The Lion King performed in Mandarin for the first time, features the Monkey King and characters dressed in Chinese opera garb(服装)to appeal to an Asian audience.

In the castle, guests not only walk through, as they do in other Disney parks, they can also eat and shop. When it was discovered that Chinese people didn’t have a favourite Disney princess, the company decided that the castle would feature all the princesses. Parks in California and France are based on the Sleeping Beauty story.

“The visitors can learn the princesses over time, and this gives them an opportunity to have an introduction to all of the princess stories,” said executive producer Ali Rubinstein.

However, China’s Disneyland sometimes are not closely related to China. Disney’s only animated film based on a Chinese story, Mulan, which tells the tale of a Chinese warrior woman, got neither its own ride nor stage show. The character appears only as a statue and afloat in the parade.

1. What’s Joe Schott’s attitude to Shanghai Disney Resort?

A．Disappointed.

B．Concerned.

C．Doubtful.

D．Confident.

2. What can be learned from what Bob said in paragraph 6?

A．They build the theme park in China.

B．The theme park belongs to China.

C．The theme park has Chinese elements.

D．The theme park has a long Chinese history.

3. Why does China’s Disneyland have all kinds of princesses?

A．Chinese people have no certain favourite Disney princess.

B．Chinese people don’t know any princess characters in Disney movies.

C．Chinese people believe “the more, the better”.

D．Parks in other countries are based on the Sleeping Beauty story.

4. What is the purpose of giving the Mulan example?

A．To show the Chinese character of Disneyland.

B．To show Mulan is an important part of Chinese culture.

C．To show China’s Disneyland has not reflected enough Chinese culture.

D．To show Disneyland has too few Chinese character films.