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 . Some Questions About Coronavirus
How long does coronavirus last?
Every case of coronavirus is different, but experts have a general idea of how long the typical course of the illness lasts. Most people can expect to recover within two weeks after the onset of symptoms, but more severe cases could last up to six weeks — and for some, dubbed “Covid long haulers,” symptoms can linger for months.
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Symptoms of the coronavirus can seem a lot like the flu. Initially, a fever, cough, and shortness of breath emerged as the three most common symptoms of COVID-19. Now, other signs such as muscle pain, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell are on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) symptoms checklist.
How long does coronavirus live on surfaces?
Though the conronavirus is typically transmitted through the air via respiratory droplets (from an infected person sneezing or coughing) rather than by touching objects and materials, the virus can still remain viable on variety of surfaces, according to the CDC, though it’s not exactly clear for how long.
How is coronavirus spread?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person, usually through close contact (within six feet). Being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks can expose you to their respiratory droplet carrying the virus — and they can spread the virus even if they don’t have any symptoms yet. If those virus-containing particles are inhaled (吸入) or land in your eyes, nose or mouth, you could become infected.
1. How long does coronavirus stay on surfaces?| A．Two weeks. | B．Six weeks. | C．Months. | D．Unclear. |
| A．contacting close (within six feet) |
| B．being near an infected person |
| C．talking with a healthy person |
| D．inhaling some virus-containing particles |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Education | D．Travel. |
3 . SAN FRANCISCO — A dog that survived the catastrophic wildfire in Northern California apparently protected the ruins of his home for almost a month until his owner returned.
Madison was there waiting when Andrea Gaylord was allowed back to check on her burned property in Paradise this week. Gaylord fled when the Nov. 8 fire broke out and destroyed the town of 27 ,000. Shayla Sullivan, an animal rescuer, who responded to Gaylord’s request to check on Madison first spotted the male Anatolian shepherd mix several days later.
Shayla Sullivan said the outdoor guard dog was mentally upset and kept his distance. Sullivan left food and water for him regularly until Gaylord got back on Wednesday. She also helped locate Madison’s brother Miguel, another Anatolian shepherd mix that was taken to a shelter 85 miles (135 kilometers) away after the wildfire.
“If the evacuees (疏散人员) can’t be there, I’m going to be there and I’m not going to give up on their animal until they can get back in,” Sullivan said.
The dogs reunited Friday when Gaylord came back to the property with Miguel and brought Madison his favorite treat: a box of Wheat Thin crackers.
Gaylord told news station ABC10 she couldn’t ask for a better animal. “Imagine the loyalty of hanging on in the worst of circumstances and being here waiting,” she said. “Their job is to watch the sheep and we’re part of them.” Gaylord said about her dogs. “It’s a comforting feeling.”
1. Andrea Gaylord was deeply touched by Madison’s ________.| A．noble blood | B．special habit |
| C．being faithful to his master | D．narrow escape from the wildfire |
| A．Gaylord requested Sullivan to leave food and water for Madison. |
| B．Madison was afraid of getting close to Sullivan in the beginning. |
| C．Sullivan saved Miguel in order to comfort Madison. |
| D．Sullivan took both two dogs to a shelter 85 miles away. |
a. Miguel was taken to a shelter
b. the wildfire in Northern California broke out
c. Madison was treated with a box of Wheat Thin crackers
d. Andrea Gaylord applied for search and rescue of Madison
| A．d-c-a-b | B．b-d-a-c | C．d-a-c-b | D．b-a-c-d |
| A．Andrea Gaylord found Madison in a shelter. |
| B．Gaylord told news station she wanted for a better animal. |
| C．The Nov. 8 fire killed 27,000 people in the town. |
| D．Shayla Sullivan was kind-hearted and patient. |
4 . Hanging stockings by the chimney with care is one of the most popular Christmas traditions, but many families display theirs without wondering why. No one can be sure when and why the practice started, but some stories give us a clue.
One of the most popular origin tales starts with none other than St. Nicholas — yes, he was a real person. In the third and fourth centuries, St. Nicholas was a bishop in modern-day Turkey who made helping others his life mission, and he caught wind of a family in need.
As the story goes, a single father was raising three daughters but realized he didn’t have enough money to pay their dowries (嫁妆)---and without dowries, they couldn’t get married.
St. Nicholas heard of the family’s dilemma but knew they were too proud to accept handouts. To make sure they didn’t refuse his generosity, he secretly sent them gold at night. Some legends say he dropped gold down the chimney, and the gifts landed in the stockings that were laid by the fire to dry, while others claim Nicholas himself hopped down the chimney. Someone - either the father or the daughters, depending on the version of the tale - caught the bishop in the act and thanked him for his help. The gifts were enough for the daughters to marry and live happily ever after.
St. Nicholas, feast day was on December 6, and eventually, the tradition of leaving gifts in stockings was paired up with Christmas celebrations.
That makes a neat and tidy origin story, but some scholars suggest the stocking tradition might have started even before Christianity in Scandinavian cultures. The Norse god Odin was said to come on Christmas, riding on an eight-legged horse. Children would leave sugar, carrots, and hay in their shoes to feed the mythical horse, and Odin would leave them gifts in return.
We’ll never know whether these stories were true or not, but stockings have a strong foothold in Christmas tradition.
1. What can we know about St. Nicholas?| A．He was born on December 6. | B．He often sent gold to the poor. |
| C．He used to hang stocking at night. | D．He liked to help other people. |
| A．Objects made by hand. |
| B．Documents containing news. |
| C．Pieces of paper given to students. |
| D．Things given free to poor people. |
| A．To prove the tale of St. Nicholas is false. |
| B．To provide a different version of story origin. |
| C．To prove the Norse god Odin is as generous as St. Nicholas. |
| D．To provide detailed information about western cultures. |
| A．The story of St. Nicholas |
| B．Different practices of gift-giving |
| C．Stories behind Christmas stockings |
| D．The Christmas tradition in modern-day Turkey |
5 . The morning she left for Camp Kanawa, Maria awoke with an ache in her stomach. She had gone on plenty of parties. She'd even spent a whole weekend at Aunt Jolie and Uncle Ed's. So what happened to her？
No breakfast today, she thought, imagining the ache turning into throwing up and a horrible road trip after a full meal. As usual, Maria felt hungry as soon as the room smelled of French toast. On the other hand, maybe a good breakfast was exactly what she needed.
"There's my big camper!" said her mom. Then, she walked to the stove, placed two pieces of French toast on a plate and powdered sugar snowing down. "Just like you like it." At the meanwhile, Maria was already in position, armed with knife, fork, napkin and a full glass of milk.
"Get started while it's hot. Your father's coming down in a minute. I told him to shave. I don't want the beard﹣I mean, the bushy black beard. "
"Okay, okay," Maria's dad said with a smile. "Clean as a whistle. Just like you ordered."
"Really" Maria's mom shrugged.
"I think it's fashionable," Maria said.
"Well, your old man is fashionable," her dad said, moving his head the way he did when he wanted to look like a cool surfer man but looked more like an Egyptian robot." In fact, I was the most popular kid at my camp."
"For the record, it was a science camp," Maria's mother reminded her, looking her straight in the eyes." In all seriousness, Maria, popularity is not important and finding the people who like you for you-that's what matters."
"Your mom speaks the truth, sugar," said Maria's dad, wiping his thick beard with a napkin." Just be yourself. You'll enjoy it."
1. Why did not Maria want to have breakfast？| A．Because she was on a diet. |
| B．Because she never had breakfast. |
| C．Because the breakfast didn't taste good. |
| D．Because she was worried that she would be sick. |
| A．It was fashionable. |
| B．It was too thick. |
| C．It was beautiful. |
| D．It was too dirty. |
| A．To advise her to love science. |
| B．To invite her to join in the science camp. |
| C．To tell her that popularity is not important. |
| D．To prove her that old men enjoy a science camp. |
| A．A Good Breakfast. |
| B．Father's Thick Beard. |
| C．Importance of Popularity. |
| D．Family Talk About a Camp. |
6 . It was in my first year of work as a doctor. My mouth was dry, my palms sweaty and my voice trembling. The only thing that kept me focused was the thought that things were so much worse for the family I was talking to.
A woman in her early twenties had been brought in after a road traffic accident. She had suffered multiple injuries and had been rushed up to theatre. The surgeons had been unable to save her life and she died on the table. Ashen-faced, the consultant (会诊医生) told the woman's family the news. “Tom, I think it would be nice if it came from you,” my consultant said.
I stared blankly. “What?” I asked.
“About organ donation,” he replied. I swallowed hard. Surely this would be the last thing they'd want to talk about. It felt acutely awkward and ill-timed to be considering this kind of conversation while they were being engulfed in grief. But the problem with organ donation is that every minute counts. The clock is ticking because the sooner organs can be transplanted, the better the chance they will survive in the recipient's (接受者) body.
I began to feel sick. I opened the door and sat opposite them, convinced that I was only going to make things worse for them.
“It's what she'd have wanted,” the mother said before I'd even finished. The father nodded. “She was always so generous,” her father added.
As my consultant and I left them, it occurred to me that I'd been wrong in thinking it would be an awkward conversation. Nothing could take away the pain of having lost their daughter. Yet this last, final act had comforted them and helped them feel that the spirit of their daughter lived on m this act of generosity. Strangely, it is one of the most heart-wanning conversations I have ever had.
1. The first two paragraphs suggest________.| A．the woman died on the scene |
| B．it was hard for the author to face death |
| C．the author witnessed the traffic accident |
| D．the woman's death was told by the consultant |
| A．He was caught in a dilemma. | B．He was seriously ill at that time. |
| C．He failed to transplant the organ. | D．The woman's chance of survival was slim. |
| A．To do the author a favor. | B．To show respect for the doctor. |
| C．To follow then daughter’s will. | D．To end the awkward conversation. |
| A．The consultant’s assistance. | B．The author’s consideration. |
| C．The donor’s kindness. | D．The recipient’s appreciation. |
7 . Female scientists with PhDs earn substantially less than their male counterpart (职位相当的人). A survey tracked more than 55,700 people who earned PhDs between 2018 and 2019. Overall, about 35% of all PhD recipients reported having a permanent job lined up at graduation, among which men reported an average annual salary of $95,000. Women reported a salary of $72,500, a gap of $22,500. In a similar survey in 2020, the overall gender gap in salaries was $18,000.
Men were over-represented in relatively high-paying fields such as computer science and engineering, but inequality continued to exist even within fields. Men with permanent jobs in the life sciences, for example, reported an expected median salary of $87,000, compared with $80,000 for women. In mathematics and computer science, men reported an expected median salary of $125,000; for women, that figure was $101,500.
Salaries and career paths can vary greatly from one scientific discipline to another, says Michael Roach, an economist at Cornell University. Roach is looking closely into differences in career outcomes for US PhD holders. Roach says it’s clear that women, on average, earn less than men even when all other factors are taken into account. In industrial research and development, there are differences that can’t be explained by ability or degree or the status of a university.
The root causes of those differences remain unclear, Roach says. One possibility is that men are more willing to negotiate for higher salaries. Roach notes that some women might have to make sacrifices to start families, but it would be a mistake to blame all income gaps on lifestyle decisions. “A lot of men want to spend more time with their families too,” he says.
The report shows that a PhD improves overall career and salary prospects, but the actual value clearly depends on the field of study, the demands of the marketplace and, for reasons that still aren’t clear, the person holding the degree. Researchers are still looking at the factors that might keep women from achieving the same level of success that equally qualified men are able to achieve.
1. Which of the following is NOT a cause of the salary differences?| A．Gender. | B．Negotiation skills. |
| C．The field of study. | D．Earning a PhD. |
| A．A man working in mathematics. |
| B．A woman working in computer science. |
| C．A man working in the life sciences. |
| D．A woman working in the life science. |
| A．The income gaps are mainly caused by lifestyle decisions. |
| B．Lifestyle decisions may not be the only cause of income gaps. |
| C．Men are more likely to spend time with their families than women. |
| D．Women are more likely to spend time with their families than men. |
| A．To discuss methods to prevent salary differences. |
| B．To praise the researchers’ effort. |
| C．To raise awareness of gender pay gap. |
| D．To stress the importance of educational backgrounds. |
8 . At eleven, I decided to learn to swim. There was a pool at the Y. M. C. A. offering exactly the opportunity. My mother continually warned against it, and kept fresh in my mind the details of each drowning in the river. But the Y. M. C. A. pool was safe.
I had a childhood fear of water. This started when I was three years old and father took me to the beach. The huge waves knocked me down and swept over me.
The pool was quiet. I was afraid of going in all alone, so I sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. Then came a big boy. He yelled, “Hi, Skinny! How'd you like to be ducked?” With that he picked me up and threw me into the deep end. I landed in a sitting position, and swallowed water. But I was not frightened out of my wits—when my feet hit the bottom, I would make a big jump, come out of the surface. It seemed a long way down. I gathered all my strength when I landed and made what I thought was a great spring upwards. Then I opened my eyes and saw nothing but water. I tried to yell but no sound came out. I went down, down, endlessly.
When I came to consciousness, I found myself on bed in hospital. I never went back to the pool. I avoided water whenever I could. This misadventure stayed with me as the years rolled by. It deprived(剥夺) me of the joy of boating and swimming. Finally, I decided to get an instructor. Piece by piece, he built a swimmer. Several months later, the instructor was finished, but I was not. Sometimes the terror would return.
This went on till July. I swam across the Lake Wentworth. Only once did the terror return. When I was in the middle of the lake, I put my face under and saw nothing but bottomless water.
I laughed and said, “Well, Mr. Terror, what do you think you can do to me?”
I had conquered my fear of water.
1. Which of the following brought about the author's fear of water?| A．An unpleasant memory of the pool. | B．An outing to the beach with his father. |
| C．His mother's warning of drowning. | D．His poor skill in swimming. |
| A．He felt that the Y. M. C. A. pool was safe. |
| B．He knew how to swim in the pool. |
| C．He came up with an idea to go upwards. |
| D．He was waiting for others to save him. |
| A．Diligent and cautious. | B．Determined and far-sighted. |
| C．Dependable and adaptable. | D．Demanding and courageous. |
| A．When swimming across the Lake Wentworth, the author's still awfully scared. |
| B．Recovering from hospital, the author showed no interest in water activities. |
| C．At first the author dare not swim on his own and wanted others' company. |
| D．Under the guidance of the instructor, the author could swim freely and bravely. |
9 . I took a job at a vet clinic almost five decades ago. As an animal lover, I accepted the position on the condition that I wouldn’t have to assist with any wounded animals. I couldn’t bear to see any creature in pain.
At the end of my first week, we were closing the office when a young man ran up to us holding severely injured Doberman pinscher puppy (杜宾幼犬) in his arms and begging us to save his life. The four-month-old puppy had been hit by a car.
The doctor and I ran back into the operating room. The only place the skin was still attached to this poor little animal’s body was around one shoulder. The vet worked tirelessly, sewing him back together again. That was the easy part. The puppy had broken multiple bones, including his spine (脊椎). If he survived the next few days, we were quite sure he would never walk again.
That day forever changed my life. I became the vet’s assistant in all things medical. One of my first jobs was to give that puppy daily physical therapy. I remember moving his tiny legs to try to keep his muscles from weakening.
Weeks went by until one day. I felt this little fighter push back ever so slightly. And eventually he could finally use his legs.
Fast-forward about a year, I walked into the clinic’s crowded waiting room and called the name of the next client. Suddenly, a huge Doberman who had been standing quietly with his owner broke loose and dashed toward me. I found myself pinned against the wall with this magnificent dog standing on his hind legs, his front paws on my shoulders, washing my face with abundant and joyful kisses!
I still tear up in amazement at the display of love and gratitude the dog had for me that day all those years ago.
1. Which was the possible position the author took originally at the clinic?| A．A professional vet. | B．A medical assistant. |
| C．A regular receptionist. | D．An enthusiastic volunteer. |
| A．She fixed his spine. | B．She sewed his wounds. |
| C．She helped him to recover. | D．She taught him to jump. |
| A．He got well immediately. |
| B．He got fierce afterwards. |
| C．He was a loyal and adventurous companion. |
| D．He had great affection for the author. |
| A．A Loving Vet. | B．A Lucky Dog. | C．A Grateful Patient. | D．Life-exchanging Story. |
10 . In summer 2007, I joined the British Red Cross at 15. After several days of training. I was attending my first event as a fully qualified Red Cross volunteer. Our team was providing medical cover for a large martial arts grading event.
Although I'd passed my first aid course with flying colours, I was nervous before the event began. There's quite a difference between the classroom and the real thing! Two experienced adult volunteers would be working with me for the day.
Rosie was taking part in the under-16s event. This was supposed to be non-contact, and she was wearing full protective clothing just in case. All these precautions didn't help, however, when her competitor misjudged a move and delivered a violent blow to her head.
“Guys, we need some help over here!” Over we went, all three of us carrying various bits of kit. Rosie was lying on the ground. As we approached we could see she was conscious. Brian, my colleague took the lead.
“Hey there, stay nice and still for me. Chris here is just going to hold your head. Don't worry; it's just a precaution.”
I helped, painfully aware that hundreds of sets of eyes were following our every move. However I soon forgot all about this as I focused on the task at hand.
Rosie was complaining of pain in her neck. These are all classic signs of a possible spinal injury. Quickly, Brian found there were no other injuries and an ambulance was called. I was still holding her head and doing my best to comfort her.
The doctors arrived and we put Rosie carefully into the ambulance for a trip to hospital. Then we went back to the first aid post quickly.
Ten years on I've met many more people like Rosie—in need of help. I've moved on from being a trainee to a trainer, from an inexperienced first aider to being part of an emergency ambulance team.
When a call comes in, that slight feeling of nervousness is still there. However, so is the feeling of making a difference, being there during a painful moment in someone's life.
1. What does the underlined part “with flying colours” probably mean?| A．Slowly. | B．Successfully. | C．Poorly. | D．Carefully. |
| A．She was hit by mistake. | B．She made a wrong move. |
| C．She didn't take precautions. | D．She was not herself and fell. |
| A．She took her to hospital. | B．She held her head and calmed her. |
| C．She checked her injuries. | D．She did something for her pain. |
| A．She often receives first aid training. |
| B．She's working as a professional doctor. |
| C．She feels a sense of achievement about her work. |
| D．She's no longer nervous when performing first aid. |
