1 . The use of AI (artificial intelligence) is becoming more common in many branches of industry and online shopping. Traditional lines of work, such as goods transport and driving, are developing in a similar direction although mainly out of public view. Scientists at the University of Göttingen have now investigated how efficient (高效的) the use of AI can be in the commercial management of trucks.
“Digital applications—as well as machine leaning, a kind of AI—are increasingly applied to operations and courses in the transport area,” explains Professor Matthias Klumpp from the Faculty of Economics. “The question in the commercial area, however, is whether or not this contributes to achieving goals.”
To answer this question, the researchers compared the work efficiency of truck drivers with their main use of AI applications. Looking at trade delivery by truck, they studied three groups: the first drove completely following human decision-making models; the second used a combination of human and machine; and the third depended completely on fully automated decisions.
The researchers found that an intelligent combination of human work and decision-making abilities with AI applications promises the highest transport and driving efficiency. “On average, the second group achieved the most efficient transport trips, with the fewest interventions (干预) and off-course from the best path.” one researcher said, “Clearly, neither a completely human decision-making structure nor a fully automated driving system can promise to meet current goods transport requirements.” The scientists therefore summarized that despite the progress of AI in the field of transportation by truck, human experience and decision-making abilities will still be necessary in the longer term. However, the challenge is that a wide range of training and qualification (资格) needs will come along by working with Al applications, especially for simple goods transport activities.
1. What does Matthias Klumpp focus on?| A．The efficiency of AI. |
| B．The advantages of AI. |
| C．The problems caused by AI. |
| D．The wide applications of AI. |
| A．By providing examples. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By using different trucks. |
| D．By listing three experiments. |
| A．Al is better at making decisions. |
| B．A balance is needed between human and AI. |
| C．Human will soon be replaced by AI in driving. |
| D．Al applications meet the current requirements. |
| A．The future of transport. |
| B．Artificial intelligence as a co-driver. |
| C．Artificial intelligence-a better choice in driving. |
| D．The strengths of artificial intelligence in transport. |
2 . Drug Allergy
INSTRUCTIONS:
Medicines:
●Keep a written list of what medicines you take and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregiver. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines. Do not take any medicines without first talking to caregivers.
●Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicine is not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking it until you discuss it with you caregiver.
Allergies:
●Talk with your caregiver before taking any drugs, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbs.
●After taking a new drug in your caregiver’s office, always stay there for at least 15 minutes.
If you get hives (荨麻疹) or rash (皮疹):
●Talk with your caregiver about taking an antihistamine(a drug used to treat allergies)that you can buy over the counter.
●Take the antihistamine until the hives are gone for 24 hours.
The following are ways to lessen itching (痒):
●Put cold compresses (敷布) on the skin, or take cool baths.
●Wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid tight underwear.
CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:
●You think you are having a reaction to a drug. Symptoms may appear as soon as 15 minutes after taking a medication.
●Your rash, hives, or itching have not gone away.
SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:
●You have trouble breathing, tight feeling in your chest or throat, or a swelling in your mouth. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. Dial 120 for help.
●You have hives, swelling, or itching ALL OVER your body.
1. What should you do to relieve itching?
| A．Take hot baths. | B．Wear loose underwear. |
| C．Take some vitamins. | D．Stay in caregiver’s office for a while. |
| A．You feel sleepy and tired. | B．Your rash has not faded away. |
| C．You are having a reaction to a drug. | D．You have itching all over the body. |
| A．To introduce some drug allergies. | B．To comment on the drug allergies. |
| C．To advertise a kind of medicine. | D．To advise people to learn more about medicines. |
3 . MEXICO CITY, April 1（Xinhua）——Discoveries at the legendary Sanxingdui ruins in southwest China show that the region’s ancient Shu state civilization shared similarities with the Maya, according to the director of the Chichen Itza archaeological site, Marco Antonio Santos.
The Sanxingdui ruins, located in the city of Guanghan, about 60 kilometers from Chengdu, belonged to the Shu Kingdom that existed at least 4,800 years ago and lasted more than 2,000 years. China announced on March 20 that archaeologists uncovered gold, ivory and jade objects dating back about 3,000 years in six sacrificial pits.
Santos told Xinhua that the bronze-made remains of trees buried at the ruins of the Shu Kingdom recall the Maya’s sacred ceiba tree, which symbolized the union of heaven, earth and the underworld for the civilization that flourished in Mesoamerica. “They are very important similarities.” said Santos, stressing that “the representations of trees in both cultures provide us with a symbolism that is very similar”.
“One notable feature of the recent discoveries at Sanxingdui was the interdisciplinary（跨学科的）work and technology applied by teams of Chinese archaeologists.” said Santos. “The technology allowed the unearthing of artifacts as fragile as silk remains, which other types of less careful excavation methods would not have been able to manage.” he said. “Cooperation between Chinese and Mexican archaeologists could benefit projects in the Maya world, where the rainy climate and humidity are problematic for the conservation of objects.” said Santos.
“Every time our cultural knowledge increases, regardless of whether we speak one language or another, what it shows us is that we continue to be sister cultures, and, therefore, the exchange of such knowledge is fundamental.” said Santos.
1. What does the underlined word “excavation” in Paragraph 4 mean?| A．research | B．examination | C．digging | D．discovery |
| A．The sacred ceiba tree is also found at the ruins of the Shu Kingdom. |
| B．The recent discoveries at Sanxingdui featured interdisciplinary work and technology. |
| C．Only the unearthing of silk remains needs to be managed with more careful methods. |
| D．The language barrier is an issue that affects the cooperation between China and Mexico. |
| A．China and Mexico continue to exchange cultural knowledge. |
| B．The discovery of the Sanxingdui ruins in south west China shocks the world. |
| C．Cooperation between Chinese and Mexican archaeologists benefits projects in both countries. |
| D．The discovery of the Sanxingdui ruins shows similarities between ancient Shu state and the Maya. |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A historical novel. | C．A research review. | D．A guidebook. |
4 . It’s hard to overstate just how much Writer’s Digest has survived to make it to its centennial. The Great Depression. World War II. The many wars and societal revolutions of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. The technological revolution and the creation of the internet. The shift from being family-owned business to a corporation with investors. And most recently, global pandemic(流行病).
It is because WD survived all that, that I view this anniversary issue as a love letter to every single person who has contributed to keeping WD alive over these amazing, and tough, and change-filled 100 years. Thank you to the Rosenthal family for starting a magazine—a community—like this. To the publishers, editors, and all the other behind--the-scenes folks who made sure each issue over the many decades was the best it could be, thank you for your hard work and long hours. To the absolutely incomparable list of writers who shared their wisdom, insights, and encouragement: This magazine was made better by your contributions.
But most of all, this is a love letter to our readers. You give the magazine purpose and the motivation to keep going. Without you, WD wouldn’t exist, so on behalf of all the current and former WD staffers, we offer our sincerest thanks.
You’ll see a collection of new columns coming in 2021. We are thrilled to have Bryan Washington, award-winning author of the short story collection Lot and the new novel Memorial, as our first guest columnist. The WD team started planning this issue more than a year ago and putting it together has been a joy. We hope you find as much pleasure and inspiration in reading it as we found in creating it. See you in year 101.
1. What does the underlined word “centennial” mean?| A．The first publication. | B．The collection version. |
| C．The 100th anniversary. | D．The opening ceremony. |
| A．It has a long list of guest columnists. |
| B．It was once a family-owned business. |
| C．It is financially supported by the community. |
| D．It contributed to the technological revolution. |
| A．She used to be a novelist. | B．She is with Writer’s Digest |
| C．She was a business owner. | D．She is one hundred years old. |
| A．To express gratitude. | B．To promote sales. |
| C．To introduce a magazine. | D．To employ new staff. |
5 . When Kristin Peck became CEO of Zoetis in January, the animal health company was growing rapidly, thanks in part to steady growth in spending on pets. Just a few weeks later, coronavirus lockdowns turned the global economy upside down. But they also got Americans to adopt pets in record numbers, enabling Zoetis and Peck to face their first big crisis with what you might call a tailwind.
Zoetis, which makes medicines and other products, was removed from Pfizer in 2013 and joined the Fortune 500 in 2019. (It' s now. No. 472.) It's the market-share leader in “companion” animal health, with 22% of the market, and in several livestock (家畜) categories too. With the coronavirus doing only minor damage so far to commercial livestock or pet spending, Zoetis's business has held up relatively well. The company' s stock is down roughly 5% this year, while the S&P 500 has fallen more than 9%.
The drug-maker has an “incredibly diversified business,” says James Tierney, chief investment officer of concentrated U.S. growth at AllianceBernstein. Its portfolio (产品组合） is split roughly 50/50 between companion and livestock, with about the same split between U.S. and international sales. And unlike many human drug companies, notes Tierney, it isn't dependent on blockbuster drugs (畅销药）. Zoetis' s best-selling product, dog itch medication Apoquel, generated less than 10% of its total sales of ＄6.3 billion in 2019. Another promising product is a new combination of flea, tick, and heartworm medicine for dogs, Simparica Trio - currently the only such combo (组合套餐) product available in the U.S.
Peck, who grew up around animals (“We had horses, four dogs, two cats, birds,” she recalls), was an executive at Pfizer before joining Zoetis. She's adjusting to the new reality in part by putting more effort into advertising for pet products and building veterinary telemedicine partnerships. Peck says the new pet owners of the coronavirus period “engage differently”： They're largely digital-first people, she says, and are more likely to heavily research products before buying.
Like pet spending itself, Zoetis isn't entirely recession-proof, and the company recently lowered its growth forecasts for the year. Its livestock business faċes short-term challenges, especially in beef and dairy, where supply-chain problems have caused hardships. But Peck says she doubts the coronavirus will affect the long-term trend toward eating more protein. And if difficult times lead consumers to focus on cheaper meats, Zoetis could benefit from products like Zoamix, an additive that takes the place of antibiotics (抗生素）in chicken feed - one more example of diversification feathering the company' s nest.
1. How was Zoetis' s business going this January?| A．It was disappointing. |
| B．It was developing very fast. |
| C．It turned Zoetis upside down. |
| D．It enabled Zoetis to join the Fortune 500. |
| A．To stress it is a blockbuster. |
| B．To explain its contribution to Zoetis. |
| C．To uncover the reason for its unsatisfactory sales. |
| D．To reveal Zoetis' s profits are from various sources. |
| A．They enjoy shopping for best-selling products. |
| B．They prefer to raise horses rather than keep birds. |
| C．They usually choose digital pets instead of real ones. |
| D．They do a lot of research online before buying something. |
| A．To reduce the cost of meat. | B．To make chicken feed tasty. |
| C．To serve as better antibiotics. | D．To increase protein in meat. |
6 . Sometime back, after a six-year-old lioness named Magigi repeatedly killed cattle, Botswana authorities caught and moved her into Central Kalahari Game Reserve, far from people. Magigi spent most of her time within the reserved protective boundaries, but after a year she escaped outside and was shot dead by a farmer. New research Maude and his colleagues have conducted confirms that Magigi's unfortunate story is common for many relocated lions. For decades, wildlife managers in a number of African countries have used such a kind way to deal with lions that repeatedly kill livestock (牲畜).But the new research shows that after lions are moved, most continue to kill livestock and endanger villagers' living.
Across Africa, lion numbers have fallen by 43 percent in the past two decades, to as few as 23,000 animals today. About 3,000 remain in Botswana. The sharp declines are primarily driven by development-lions now occupy just 8 percent of their historic habitat. With less space set aside for conservation, lions are more frequently coming into contact with humans. These are usually farms, expanding around the edges of the protected areas. The lions eat livestock, which negatively impacts the livelihood of the farmers in these rural areas. Without a proper way to prevent these attacks, the dinners often turn to deadly force, shooting or poisoning the lions, which has resulted in the decrease in lion population.
Rather than trying to move lions, wildlife conservationist Glyn Maude says, emphasis should be placed on reducing the chances of lions encountering and killing livestock in the first place. Many preventative measures are being tested in various African countries, including hiring lion guardians (护卫者) to monitor these big cats, creating lion-proof fences, sending out lion text alerts, and teaching herders to keep livestock away from high-risk areas.
1. Why was Magigi moved to a reserve?| A．To stop her from being caught. |
| B．To prevent her from killing cattle. |
| C．To get her to stay with her family. |
| D．To train her to get along with people. |
| A．Illegal wildlife trade. | B．Human-lion conflict. |
| C．A natural disaster. | D．The lack of food in their habitat. |
| A．Lions will be fenced in to avoid meeting people. |
| B．The relocation of lions has proven to be effective. |
| C．Prevention is the cure for lions' attacking livestock. |
| D．It's impossible for lions to live with humans in harmony. |
| A．Big Cats' Relocation Proving Deadly |
| B．Lions Shot Dead after Attacking a Man |
| C．The Tragic Story of a Magical Lioness |
| D．Conservation Status of the African Lion |
7 . Here’s an idea whose time has come: A flu shot that doesn’t require an actual shot.
For the first time, researchers have tested a flu vaccine patch(疫苗贴) in a human clinical(临床的) and found that it delivered as much protection as a traditional injection（注射）. Doctors and public health experts have high hopes that it will increase the number of people who get immunized(免疫的) against the flu.
Seasonal flu is responsible for up to half a million deaths around the world each year according to the World Health Organization. A team led by Georgia Tech engineer Mark Prausnitz has come up with an alternative method that uses “microneedles”. These tiny neddles on a patch are very small. Yet they’re big enough to hold vaccine for three types of flu.
None of the study volunteers had serious side effects. The group that got patches had mild skin reactions that were not seen in the regular needle group, while the volunteers in the regular needle group were more likely to experience pain. Overall, 70 percent of the volunteers who got vaccine patches said they’d rather use them again than get a traditional flu shot. The study authors declared it a success on all fronts.
The biggest beneficiaries(受益人) could be people in low- and middle- income countries, where flu vaccines are hard to come by. Reducing pain is nice, but other benefits—the patch costs less, is easier to transport, doesn’t reqire refrigeration, can be self-administered and doesn’t cause waste of needles- are even better.
“Microneedle patches have the potential to become ideal candidates for vaccination programs,” wrote Katja Hoschler and Maria Zambon of Public Health England.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．A vaccine patch that cures people of their flu. |
| B．A clinical study that protects people from disease. |
| C．A patch that makes flu shots a thing of the past. |
| D．A method that makes traditional flu shots painless. |
| A．It is prouduced by the WHO. | B．It causes slight side effect. |
| C．It delivers vaccine to the little finger. | D．It works badly on people. |
| A．it is provided free of charge | B．it can be used without a doctor |
| C．it can be kept at room temperature | D．it needs less care in transportation |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Favorable. |
| C．Concerned. | D．Unacceptable. |
8 . Today we know Antarctica as an extreme environment containing ice and snow. But new research provides evidence that the area had a rainforest in the past.
The researchers collected a piece of Earth sediment (沉淀物) from under the seafloor off the coast of Antarctica. In the sediment they discovered forest material that was estimated to be about 90 million years old. This would have been in the Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs were the main land animals. The sediment was removed by scientists on the research icebreaker RV Polarstern in the Amundsen Sea near Pine Island Glacier.
Johann Klages is a geologist with the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research in Germany. He was the lead writer of a study on the findings, published in the journal Nature. He said the sediment was collected from a depth of about 30 meters below the ocean floor. Klages said an examination showed that the material didn’t form in the ocean.
The researchers estimate that the area—about 900 kilometers from the South Pole—had average yearly temperatures of about 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. During the warmest summer months, average temperatures likely reached between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. The soil included fine dirt particles (颗粒) and hard clay, as well as substances linked to at least 65 different kinds of plants, the study found. Klages added that the plants included trees, ferns and flowering plants. While no animal remains were found, Klages said there were likely dinosaurs, flying reptiles (爬行动物) and many insects in the environment.
The research represents new evidence of the major climate changes Earth has experienced in the past—and is currently undergoing today. The soil in the sediment dates back to the planet’s warmest period of the past 140 million years, with sea level about 170 meters higher than today. The researchers said that the rainforest environment in Antarctica was especially surprising because each year, the area experiences a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to fuel plant life. Klages said no ice sheets were present during the time, but seasonal snowfall was likely.
1. How did the researchers come to their findings?| A．By collecting data on climate. |
| B．By researching special plants. |
| C．By exploring ice in Antarctica. |
| D．By analyzing the Earth sediment. |
| A．Its material developed in the ocean. |
| B．Its material formed on the land. |
| C．It dates back to cold times in Antarctica |
| D．It contained different animal remains |
| A．There were ice sheets 140 million years ago. |
| B．Seasonal snowfall made the forest disappear. |
| C．Antarctica’s natural environment has changed greatly. |
| D．Polar nights in Antarctica are getting shorter than before. |
| A．Antarctica is getting warmer like before. |
| B．Various wildlife once existed in Antarctica. |
| C．Antarctica had a different history of climate. |
| D．Researchers study the secrets of Antarctica. |
9 . In the world of Chinese archaeology (考古学), a sign of a dig's importance is the sight of Zhou Mingsheng at work. A field technician who has worked at archaeological sites all around China. Master Zhou is credited with the gentlest touch in his profession. Born into a farming family, he is a “national-level craftsman” with a talent for using simple tools to get relics (遗物) that would crumble in other hands, says his current boss, Wang Xu, director of an archaeological site at Shuanghuaishu, a Neolithic (新石器时代的) settlement near the Yellow River in the central province of Henan.
It is not beauty that attracts visitors to Shuanghuaishu. At 5, 300 years old, the settlement is the work of a culture too simple to have left behind many buried treasures. The single most precious find, to date, is a finger-length sculpture of a silkworm. Nor is the setting lovely: an area surrounded by deafening insects, between a highway and two power stations. Rather, the site's importance is historical. For since the birth of Chinese archaeology in the 1920s, it has been inseparable from claims that China has the oldest unbroken civilisation on Earth.
Leading archaeologists say that the site has the right combination of location, age and distinctive cultural elements to be the capital of an early Chinese kingdom. That would make it a bridge between China's written history and the era of the Yellow Emperor, who is said to rule over these central plains almost 5,000 years ago, though many foreign scholars doubt his existence. Chinese media call the site proof of China's 5,000 years of history.
Foreigners complain about a lack of written records, Mr Wang notes. Perhaps they are missing symbols that will one day be understood, for instance in patterned pottery. Outsiders "can't keep using Western standards to apply to Chinese ruins," he argues.
1. What does the underlined word “crumble” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Result. | B．Break. | C．Wait. | D．Shine. |
| A．It is of great historical significance. | B．It has various precious treasures. |
| C．It has appealing scenery. | D．It is easily accessible. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Tolerant. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Chinese history amazes the world | B．Chinese archaeology catches on |
| C．China follows its tradition | D．China digs its past |
10 . In the magnificent range of mountains of northern California, 42 radio telescopes point towards the stars, scanning for signs of life. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence （SETI） Institute has been listening for a signal here since it was founded in 1984. Jill Tarter, its co — founder, says the programmed aim is not just to communicate with remote civilisations. It is also to remind human beings of its own modest, fragile （脆弱的）place in the universe. Thus, for the first time, SETI is cocking its ear towards Earth to look for a signal that can be sent into space to represent the species.
Felipe Perez Santiago, a Mexican musician and composer, has an idea of what might work.Since songs, like the human voices, are common to all languages and nations, he and Ms. Tarter have designed the “Earthling Project”-a call to people everywhere to upload extracts （精华）of song that he plans to melt into a collective human chorus. An initial composition will be launched into space this summer, recorded on a virtually indestructible disk. Future plans and dreams include an eventual landing on Mars.
Human music has been sent to the heavens in 1977. Distant beings can in theory already enjoy Peruvian panpipes, a Navajo chant, Bach, Beethoven and more. But no previous offering, and perhaps no composition undertaken anywhere, has tried to encompass the entire diversity of human song.
Mr. Santiago says he is thrilled about bringing together contributors from around the globe. Unlike other recordings sent into space, says Mr. Santiago, “Everyone's invited. You don't have to be one of the main composers of our history like Beethoven, just someone singing in their shower.” Download the “Earthling Project" app, sing up to three songs of 30 seconds each, and your voice will be sent into the sky.
1. Why does SETI look for a signal to be sent into space?| A．To stand for species on the earth. |
| B．To scan for other liveable planets. |
| C．To respond to the call of the universe. |
| D．To stress the importance of the earth. |
| A．It is a world music organization. |
| B．It intends to create a human chorus. |
| C．It tries to develop a universal language. |
| D．It aims to search for signals from space. |
| A．Include. | B．Appreciate. |
| C．Work out. | D．Relate to. |
| A．To inspire people to become composers. |
| B．To call on people to protect our planet. |
| C．To encourage people to explore space. |
| D．To invite people to join a programme. |
