1 . A few months ago, a friend gifted me a robot sweeper that’s programmed to move around a room and clean as it goes.

When the box arrived, I was afraid the device would detect me and suck up (汲取) data along with the dog hair and dust. But the instructions were easy, and I finally decided not to care.

I powered up the sweeper, watched it leave its docking station to work, and quickly fell in love with my newly shiny floors. I kept shooting its working videos. “I think you’re giving more attention to it than to us,” joked my son.

One day, I returned home and discovered that our front door had blown open and the robot rolled into the yard, trying to clean the flower beds. Even when its brushes were blocked with leaves, bugs and mud, its little wheels bravely kept turning.

The robot acted properly as it was programmed to clean “dirty” things. In a kitchen, dirt can be garden debris (碎片) such as leaves and mud. In a garden, this kind of dirt does not need to be removed. The context is important. The problem for robots is that reading this context is difficult.

This accident inspired me to think more about AI (artificial intelligence). As far as I am concerned, AI is simply well trained and reproduces what it has learned. And it is undeniable that robots are increasingly being given powerful intelligence. Some experts even predict that we will soon see not only AI-enabled robots designed to solve problems according to their instructions, but also those with the ability to judge how they should respond when they are in a different setting.

Maybe this will happen in the near future.

1. What was the author’s concern about the robot sweeper at first?

A．Its after-sales service.	B．Its working efficiency.
C．The privacy of her family.	D．The readability of its instructions.

2. How did the author feel about the robot sweeper after using it?

A．Enthusiastic.

B．Regretful.

C．Uncertain.

D．Cautious.

3. What was the root cause of the accident happening to the robot sweeper?

A．Its program went wrong.	B．It lacked critical thinking.
C．Its wheels were badly designed.	D．It failed to work on rough surfaces.

4. What does the sixth paragraph mainly talk about concerning AI?

A．The accident.	B．Some experts’ thinking.
C．Its appeal to the author.	D．The author’s opinion.

2 . Have you ever been in a position where you were required to participate in music lessons, although you had absolutely no interest?

The _________ was this: My father was a professional music teacher _________ in teaching Hawaiian and Spanish guitar. My mother was an accomplished piano player and, _________, the whole family was very musical. I was the only one who had not been involved, yet, in learning to play a(n) _________.

And, as a lot of _________ do, I was enrolled (注册) in piano lessons _________ I had absolutely no interest in learning how to play it. So, it _________. Lesson after lesson I attended but didn’t play carefully at the time I was meant to practice. Finally, I just quit practicing and my piano teacher told my parents that I was hopeless. Great-no more piano lessons. However, the music _________ didn’t end here. It went on to where I decided what I wanted to learn and that ended up being the drums. I _________ playing the drums and went on to play in several bands for many years after that.

The point here is this: We all make __________ sooner or later but those cannot be forced on you. The other __________ is that you will make your own choices on whatever basis and for whatever reasons when you are __________. Some people take longer than others to __________. This can be annoying to some people but that is the way of life.

Now, that doesn’t mean you just have to sit on your hands. It means, instead, that you __________ to exchange ideas. After all, whether you know it or not, what you say does have a(n) __________. You can influence but you cannot force.

1.

A．schedule

B．situation

C．process

D．consequence

2.

A．specializing

B．resulting

C．believing

D．differing

3.

A．for example

B．in fact

C．as usual

D．at last

4.

A．album

B．match

C．instrument

D．role

5.

A．schools

B．classes

C．communities

D．families

6.

A．even if

B．as though

C．in case

D．now that

7.

A．faded

B．started

C．increased

D．mattered

8.

A．theory

B．festival

C．industry

D．story

9.

A．quit

B．admitted

C．enjoyed

D．regretted

10.

A．choices

B．excuses

C．mistakes

D．plans

11.

A．concern

B．benefit

C．truth

D．method

12.

A．afraid

B．busy

C．young

D．ready

13.

A．imagine

B．decide

C．argue

D．doubt

14.

A．offer

B．forget

C．pretend

D．prefer

15.

A．question

B．copy

C．access

D．effect

3 . A family who is willing to support you while you’re in college is a wonderful thing. Even though you are in school, you still have _________ to pay and other things to buy.

_________ what happens when your parents say, “You have to start _________ the things you need”? In other words, it is time to find a job.

The first thing you should do is _________ whether you have the right to do a work-study (勤工俭学) program. Usually, you should start _________ in advance. Building a network of people is a great way to find a job. Make a(n) _______ to meet new people and talk with them. There is always someone who is graduating, which _________ new openings have to be filled. Make yourself _________ to everyone. You may not get the job you applied for, but you will get something important in return. The more they see your face, the more likely they are to_______ you. Why? Because they’ll remember you. You’ve made a lasting ________.

Going to a small school __________ me to be known to many people. People saw me __________ because of the positions I held. In fact, I’ve gained more jobs because people were ________   with me. But once you get your name out there, be __________ what you do. First impressions can last a lifetime, and your reputation will precede (领先) you, whether it is good or bad.   

It is truly amazing to have someone who understands your struggle to talk to. Talking to the older students at my school really helped me. Now I am able to do the same. I talk to other students about my__________, including not having my family there for me and how I held on to the last minute.

I hope that sharing my story can help others to see that they can do it, too.

1.

A．notes

B．reports

C．bills

D．files

2.

A．But

B．For

C．Or

D．So

3.

A．paying for

B．paying off

C．taking up

D．taking away

4.

A．imagine

B．determine

C．blame

D．conclude

5.

A．making

B．searching

C．treating

D．worrying

6.

A．effect

B．difference

C．change

D．effort

7.

A．clarifies

B．admits

C．means

D．realizes

8.

A．known

B．understood

C．heard

D．improved

9.

A．reject

B．interview

C．employ

D．order

10.

A．relation

B．memory

C．decision

D．impression

11.

A．forced

B．allowed

C．warned

D．promised

12.

A．rarely

B．regularly

C．suddenly

D．finally

13.

A．familiar

B．popular

C．angry

D．honest

14.

A．generous

B．afraid

C．careful

D．patient

15.

A．performances

B．experiences

C．habits

D．origins

4 . As an immigrant from China, my mother loves Chinese culture deeply. She _________ Chinese food every night. She prefers to do it herself at home because she thinks the local restaurants aren’t authentic. _________, strangely enough, she likes to take my son to Panda Express to have _________ with her friends who are also from China. She is even _________ to point it out whenever they are at a food court.

Why is American Chinese food not _________ among some Chinese Americans? How is American Chinese food not better than _________ Chinese food? I can’t _________ that it’s not as good as authentic Chinese food. In fact, authentic Chinese food really tastes better while American Chinese food _________ to have food with its own taste — they are right for different persons. It’s important to _________ American Chinese food from authentic Chinese food. They are not the same __________ and have their own characteristics. So they should be treated __________. That’s why my mother thinks that Panda Express is not very authentic, but can still __________ it. Actually, American Chinese food is often created by Chinese immigrants according to their own preferences. As people from various countries have differences in their __________, it is changing.

My mother has a deep feeling for authentic Chinese food and restaurants, so I decide to open a restaurant where she and other immigrants can feel the __________ of Chinese family dinner. My son says he’ll learn Chinese cooking skills from me, which, I think, should be __________ from age to age. Likewise, I’ll also pass on the Chinese food culture to the world.

1.

A．orders

B．cooks

C．donates

D．receives

2.

A．However

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．Otherwise

3.

A．alternatives

B．restrictions

C．meals

D．comments

4.

A．unwilling

B．illegal

C．ambitious

D．quick

5.

A．agreeable

B．contemporary

C．massive

D．complicated

6.

A．complex

B．actual

C．expensive

D．previous

7.

A．believe

B．find

C．deny

D．conclude

8.

A．deserves

B．helps

C．hates

D．refuses

9.

A．make

B．prepare

C．defend

D．distinguish

10.

A．process

B．cuisine

C．mood

D．discount

11.

A．differently

B．generously

C．abnormally

D．vividly

12.

A．build

B．equip

C．accept

D．monitor

13.

A．careers

B．platforms

C．ranks

D．tastes

14.

A．decrease

B．atmosphere

C．reflection

D．duty

15.

A．spied on

B．called on

C．handed down

D．broken down

5 . Rejection doesn’t always hurt. Sometimes rejection may _________ a more certain path to our final goals.

This year football fans have been watching to see how Joe would _________ in the playoffs(季后赛) this season. Joe dreamed to play in the National Football League (NFL), but his journey wasn’t a(n) _________ one. He applied to several colleges, but none _________ him. Later, he got into Ohio State, but he sat on the _________ for three years. Ohio State had a great football program and coaches, who didn’t think Joe had _________. But Joe thought differently. He _________ Nebraska and got rejected once again, but he didn’t quit. Then he applied to Louisiana State University, which accepted him. The rest is history.

Joe became the Heisman Trophy _________ during his senior year, then he was admitted to the NFL, and later, his team participated in the World Championship.

Joe’s story reminds us that there are _________ paths to our final goals and that it __________ strong endurance and determination to reach them. No single __________ is going to prevent you from __________ your long-term goals. Be sure to__________ the pain that comes from disappointment and face it bravely. Try to focus on goals rather than the __________ outcome of being rejected and remember that the hurt of rejection comes from how we __________ it.

1.

A．follow

B．lead

C．create

D．clear

2.

A．study

B．perform

C．train

D．join

3.

A．tough

B．fun

C．attractive

D．easy

4.

A．accepted

B．remembered

C．rejected

D．ignored

5.

A．bench

B．stand

C．team

D．stage

6.

A．chance

B．resource

C．potential

D．enthusiasm

7.

A．signed up for

B．applied to

C．attended to

D．searched for

8.

A．fan

B．adviser

C．learner

D．winner

9.

A．similar

B．smooth

C．multiple

D．flat

10.

A．costs

B．takes

C．makes

D．offers

11.

A．theory

B．training

C．rejection

D．excuse

12.

A．achieving

B．planning

C．announcing

D．explaining

13.

A．affect

B．emphasize

C．estimate

D．acknowledge

14.

A．active

B．negative

C．possible

D．predictable

15.

A．interpret

B．imagine

C．explore

D．escape

6 . I love wildlife. So when my friend said that we had a chance to _________ brown bears in the High Tatras, I didn’t think twice about it, and we _________ arrangements to go the following week.

The trip was a great _______ ! We walked for hours and stayed in a _________ mountain hut(小屋) which was usually reserved for park rangers. It actually took us some trouble even to locate it. As soon as we arrived, our guide _________ to us that we would be fully integrated(融入) into their research programme and would be tracking the _________ of bears wearing GPS transmitters. On the first day, we were woken up at sunrise and, after _________ some warm clothes, set off into the forest. Our guide walked very _________ and we had trouble keeping up with him. Suddenly he _________ across a small hill. He must have caught sight of a bear. We followed him as fast as we could, but by the time we reached him, the bear had __________ into the bushes. Later in the week, though, we did manage to observe several bears feeding on berries. We were so excited. Yet, __________ hurrying to take photos, we __________ our breath, stayed about 30 meters away and just watched them. Our guide insisted that we should keep our __________ from the bears so as not to __________ them.

Observing bears in their natural habitat(栖息地) was really __________. I had never experienced anything like that before. If I hadn’t had to go back to school, I would happily have stayed on for several more weeks.

1.

A．hunt

B．feed

C．protect

D．track

2.

A．made

B．changed

C．cancelled

D．quit

3.

A．deal

B．danger

C．success

D．regret

4.

A．safe

B．comfortable

C．remote

D．beautiful

5.

A．recommended

B．explained

C．admitted

D．reported

6.

A．habits

B．leftovers

C．photos

D．movements

7.

A．throwing on

B．tidying up

C．paving for

D．taking off

8.

A．cautiously

B．rapidly

C．steadily

D．casually

9.

A．moved

B．wandered

C．paced

D．dashed

10.

A．disappeared

B．looked

C．broken

D．turned

11.

A．due to

B．instead of

C．apart from

D．as for

12.

A．drew

B．held

C．released

D．caught

13.

A．intention

B．fear

C．bravery

D．distance

14.

A．attack

B．train

C．disturb

D．feed

15.

A．fascinating

B．boring

C．exhausting

D．challenging

7 . Smoking is even a tradition in Chinese celebrations. At my wedding, we handed out the traditional candies to people who came. I had said to my wife, Ellen, that handing out packets of cigarettes was wrong, as it just encouraged people to continue a deadly habit. “But it’s traditional,” she replied, “People would think we were mean if we don’t!”

Over the years I’ve been given cigarettes as gifts and have always handed them straight back. This might make me look ungrateful in Chinese eyes, but I can’t understand the logic behind handing someone a gift that will cause them to smell terrible, have awful breath, and even worse, kill them.

This year the university I work at has taken the bold step of making the entire campus “smoke free”. As my students are either doctors doing postgraduates studies, or medical students on their way to being doctors, I thought they would be in favor of such a move, but I was wrong. Many of them have complained to me that they see this as depriving them of their civil rights and that they should be allowed to smoke when and where they like.

When I pointed out to them that cigarettes do harm not only to those smoking themselves, but even to those breathing in second hand smoke, the argument was dismissed with a wave. “Those studies aren’t conclusive”, one doctor replied. “Besides, my grandmother told me that smoking is manly.” Tempting(诱人的) as it was to ask if she was also a doctor, I let the argument go and went off in search of some fresh air.

1. Which of the following is a consequence of smoking according to the author?

A．It will leave you breathless.	B．People believe you are mean.
C．People think you are ungrateful.	D．It will make your smell unpleasant.

2. What attitude do many of the author’s students have towards the entire campus “smoke free”?

A．Objective.

B．Unconcerned.

C．Negative.

D．Positive.

3. What does the underlined word “depriving” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Robbing.

B．Accusing.

C．Informing.

D．Reminding.

4. In which column of a newspaper is this text probably found?

A．Technology.

B．Entertainment.

C．Art.

D．Life.

8 . I’m a mother of three and a psychologist. Recently, I come to understand what makes childhood valuable in its own right.

One day, when I went to get my 7-year-old son from soccer ________, the kid ________ me with a downcast face. The coach had ________ him for not focusing on his soccer drills. He walked out of the school with his head and shoulders ________ down. He seemed wrapped in ________. But just before he reached the car door, he suddenly stopped, crouching (蹲伏) down to ________ something on the sidewalk. His ________ went down lower and lower, and then, with complete joy he called out, “Mum. Come here. This is the ________ bug (虫子) I’ve ever seen. It has, like a million ________. It’s amazing.” He looked up at me, his features overflowing with energy and ________. “Can’t we ________ here for just a minute? I want to find out what he does with all those legs.”

The traditional view of such a moment is that it is ________, or a waste of valuable time. Yet at that moment it suddenly dawned on me that what sets children apart from adults is not their ignorance (无知) but their ________ for joy. Children’s ability to become deeply ________ in something and get great pleasure is what adults spend the rest of their lives ________.

1.

A．appointment

B．display

C．practice

D．experience

2.

A．served

B．greeted

C．witnessed

D．treated

3.

A．envied

B．criticized

C．promoted

D．forgiven

4.

A．hanging

B．settling

C．putting

D．turning

5.

A．shyness

B．weakness

C．loneliness

D．sadness

6.

A．pick up

B．look for

C．stare at

D．bring out

7.

A．ears

B．hands

C．mouth

D．face

8.

A．biggest

B．simplest

C．strangest

D．dullest

9.

A．eyes

B．arms

C．legs

D．feet

10.

A．entertainment

B．delight

C．satisfaction

D．confusion

11.

A．gather

B．play

C．sit

D．stay

12.

A．practical

B．impossible

C．accessible

D．unnecessary

13.

A．capacity

B．respect

C．effort

D．responsibility

14.

A．experienced

B．absorbed

C．rich

D．skillful

15.

A．seeking

B．studying

C．missing

D．denying

9 . My career as a chef started at the age of 25, but my ______ for cooking started at an early age, when I was about 5 years old — by watching my grandmother and my mom in the kitchen ______ daily meals for the family. I was also ______by going with my grandfather to markets to ______ the freshest ingredients. My grandfather taught me the art of picking and recognizing “the ______.”

From my youth, I have had this passion for food. Growing up in Morocco, I witnessed the most amazing hospitality and ______ through my grandparents. They opened their ______ to everybody, and fed and sheltered the poor, travelers, family and friends.

I remember as a young kid coming home from school to the ______ of fragrant (芳香的) fresh bread coming out of the oven. Those smells stimulated (刺激) my senses at a young age. The ______were fresh and seasonal — they were very simple dishes but delightfully ______.

Food is almost as ______ as it is necessary. Food makes people feel things. I really think that food tastes its best when there is a ______ behind it. It shapes cultures, religion, politics and health. Food brings people together, and goes straight to the ______.

In my kitchen, I try to duplicate (复制) smells and flavors that make me think about more than what I’m actually smelling or ______ — it makes me think of life, my family, and my history. I love to cook food that ______ people’s emotions and memories; my philosophy is to “keep food real and simple.”

1.

A．talent

B．passion

C．explanation

D．expectation

2.

A．changing

B．ordering

C．preparing

D．searching

3.

A．inspired

B．bothered

C．honored

D．amused

4.

A．ask about

B．experiment with

C．learn of

D．shop for

5.

A．biggest

B．cleanest

C．best

D．cheapest

6.

A．wisdom

B．honesty

C．success

D．generosity

7.

A．offices

B．houses

C．restaurant

D．hotel

8.

A．art

B．signs

C．creation

D．smells

9.

A．fruits

B．vegetables

C．ingredients

D．goods

10.

A．delicious

B．useful

C．organic

D．convenient

11.

A．nutritious

B．sufficient

C．emotional

D．suitable

12.

A．reason

B．purpose

C．cook

D．story

13.

A．kitchen

B．heart

C．source

D．point

14.

A．tasting

B．chewing

C．touching

D．seeing

15.

A．holds up

B．drives away

C．stirs up

D．depends on

10 . It was a beautiful midwinter day in Pretoria. The sun shone warmly, and the air was fresh, calling us outdoors. A friend and I went for a walk up a small hill. Everywhere around us the grass was a dull brown color, as if painted with a dirty brush. I told my thought to my friend who, in reply, drew from his coat a pocket microscope. Bending down, he picked some of the ugly-colored growth and handed it to me with the microscope. I could hardly believe my eyes, for suddenly I was looking at some shining tiny flowers of lovely color. It seemed strange that so much beauty should be so hidden, a secret life carried on by nature beneath a dull exterior (外表).

Some days later, while I was at the hospital where I worked, a woman entered with three children. Her hair hung in untidy wisps round a face whose uncared-for skin looked dried and dull. She sat down and waited her turn with the patience of the poor. The children gradually gathered courage and made braver explorations as time went by. Suddenly the little girl overbalanced and fell. Both her brothers, a little bigger than her, rushed anxiously to her aid. When the child fell, the mother had at first started up in alarm, but when she saw that the child was not really hurt and that her brothers were caring for her with such love, her eyes grew soft and a look of such indescribable love passed over her face — once again I looked at great beauty.

Beauty lies on every side; we must develop our own microscopes of perception ( 感知能力) in order to look through the physical exterior which, like the grass-covered hillside, conceals a beauty still hidden from our eyes.

1. Why did the author and his friend go for a walk up a small hill?

A．To enjoy the beauty of the day.	B．To test his friend’s microscope.
C．To find hidden beauty on the hill.	D．To check the growth of the grass.

2. What was the beauty the author found in the woman he met in the hospital?

A．Her kindness.	B．Her strong will.
C．Her patience as a patient.	D．Her great love as a mother.

3. What does the author intend to tell us through the text?

A．Nature can teach us a lot.	B．The poor have a soft heart.
C．We should learn to find hidden beauty.	D．We should never look down upon the poor.

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

A．Steals.

B．Covers.

C．Freezes.

D．Exposes.