1 . A team of scientists from the Center for Cognition and Sociality and the Data Science Group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) made an exciting discovery about how computers and human brains work similarly when remembering things. They found out that the way artificial intelligence (AI) models, like those in smart robots, store memories is a lot like how our brain’s memory center, called the hippocampus (海马体), does it. This part of the brain is really important for feelings and memories.
Understanding how AI learns and keeps information is key to making it smarter. The scientists looked into how our brains learn and remember by focusing on a special process involving the NMDA receptor, a critical part of the hippocampus. This receptor works like a smart door in our brain that helps with learning and remembering. It opens when certain brain chemicals are present, allowing the cell to receive signals and create memories. A specific element, magnesium, acts like a guard, only letting substances in under the right conditions.
Interestingly, the team found that Transformer, a type of AI model, uses a similar “guarding” method to manage its memory. They wondered if they could make the Transformer’s memory better by copying the brain’s process. By adjusting some settings in the Transformer to mimic (模拟、模仿) the brain’s memory door, they improved its ability to remember things long-term, just like adjusting magnesium levels can affect how well we remember stuff.
This discovery is a big deal because it shows we can use what we know about the brain to make AI smarter. C. Justin LEE, a neuroscience (神经学) director at the institute, mentioned that this research was a big step forward for both AI and brain science. It opens up new ways to understand how the brain works and to create more advanced AI based on these insights.
So, in simple terms, scientists have figured out that computers can learn and remember in ways that are surprisingly similar to us, which could help make them even smarter in the future.
1. What does the term “NMDA receptor” in paragraph 2 most likely refer to?| A．A type of computer virus that attacks AI systems. |
| B．A new technology for making computers run faster. |
| C．A component in AI models that predicts future events. |
| D．A part of the human brain involved in learning and memory. |
| A．It directly mimics the brain’s memory process. |
| B．It is unaffected by changes in memory settings. |
| C．It uses a special method to manage memory. |
| D．It requires adjustments to enhance long-term memory. |
| A．It is a new approach to memory organization. |
| B．It is a crucial step in advancing AI and neuroscience. |
| C．It is a method for improving short-term memory in AI. |
| D．It is a breakthrough in understanding AI emotional processing. |
| A．Exploring the NMDA receptor in the brain. |
| B．Discussing implications of neuroscience for AI. |
| C．Comparing computer and human memory processes. |
| D．Discovering similarities between AI and human memory. |
My brother was an excellent student at high school. However, I always felt stressed because of him. How I wished my brother weren’t so perfect. It made me work twice as hard to prove myself.
One afternoon I got a biology test. “I badly needed an A,” my mind kept repeating. I studied till the last minute of lunch and rushed to class.
Good, I thought, looking through the first page. I quickly filled in the answers, smiling with confidence. When I reached the last page, my mind went blank (空白). I read the questions over, but the words started to jumble (混乱). Although I could picture the pages of the book, I could not remember the text. My mind wouldn’t function. “Concentrate, Lara, you studied it this morning,” I tried to remember what was written in the book. The clock ticked away the minutes. I took a look at the clock. There was only three minutes. Soon everyone left, and I was still watching the paper.
“Lara, I need you to hand in your test,” Mrs. Phloem said. I quickly placed my name in the blank spaces and handed her the test.
After school, I quickly walked home. That night after dinner I sat down to finish The Great Gatsby. I thought “Great American Novels” would inspire me to brave hardships. However, the book truly felt like a waste of my time. Yet the fact remained that I was afraid to open my biology text and check the answers, although I refused to believe I might have done poorly on the test.
It was a rainy day when I got my biology test back. I looked at the red mark: C. It was not even a B minus, my mind screamed (尖叫). It was over.
注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Upon arriving home that night, I shouted at my brother.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Seeing what happened, my brother came to me with a smile.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Charlie Jeffers, 17, a senior at Redwood High School in Marin County, Calif., has loved Lego since age 4. His room is full of Lego bricks. Noticing his friends start throwing away their old Lego collections, he hatched a plan. “Legos are pricey,” he noted. “Many can’t afford them.” He started collecting unwanted Lego parts from friends and neighbors, spreading the word through community notices and door-to-door visits.
The response was surprising. Donations of old Lego sets poured in, propelling Jeffers to formalize his efforts under the banner of Pass the Bricks. Together with a dedicated team of volunteers, Jeffers and his teammates carefully clean, sort, and repurpose collected Lego pieces into imaginative sets. These sets, each with roughly 20 to 60 pieces, are carefully made to create scenes such as blind dates or family photoshoots. Since its start in 2020, Pass the Bricks has made a significant success. With over 3,000 sets donated to date, Jeffers and his team are driven by two purposes: to reduce landfill waste and to provide Legos to children who might otherwise go without. Jeffers stresses the educational value of Lego, emphasizing its capacity to inspire creativity and learning.
Pass the Bricks has since expanded its reach nationwide, with volunteers in several states distributing sets to local charities. To ensure each set is presented with care, Jeffers uses donations and personal funds from his job at a gym to purchase affordable cardboard gift boxes online. These sets, accompanied by instructions and a photo of the finished product, are distributed to various organizations and directly to children at local schools.
Despite his approaching to college, Jeffers remains devoted to his commitment to Pass the Bricks. He plans to continue and expand the initiative, driven by a desire to share the joy and educational benefits of Lego with as many children as possible. “We’re grateful to share them with the kids and families we serve,” Jeffers expresses. Reflecting on his own Lego-filled childhood, he acknowledges its profound influence. “I aim to provide others with the same chance,” he emphasizes, echoing his ongoing commitment to sharing the joy of Lego with all.
1. What is the primary purpose of Pass the Bricks?| A．To generate profit from selling Lego sets. |
| B．To recycle old Lego pieces and reduce waste. |
| C．To compete with other Lego manufacturers. |
| D．To promote the use of Legos in professional settings. |
| A．Forcing. | B．Preventing. | C．Urging. | D．Expecting. |
| A．By relying on community contributions. |
| B．By investing in appropriate packaging materials. |
| C．By securing financial support through various means. |
| D．By distributing with charitable organizations nationwide. |
| A．Establishing a sustainable company. |
| B．Earning recognition for his dedication. |
| C．Enhancing personal satisfaction and growth. |
| D．Sharing Lego joy with many children and families. |
Kevin was a schoolboy who was considered to be thoughtful. One day, Kevin returned home and said, “Mom! I’m home!” Kevin closed the door and dropped his books on a chair. “Hi, Kevin, home already?” his mom turned around and said.
“It’s spring. I was thinking more of our annual spring cleaning,” Kevin’s mom suggested. “Tomorrow is Saturday. Let’s do some cleaning, shall we?” “Okay,” Kevin agreed.
The next day, they cleaned upstairs, downstairs, inside, outside, until everything was spotless (一尘不染的). Tired, they sank into the couch. Pointing to Grandpa’s chair, Kevin’s mom shouted, “Oh, my gosh! That old chair has got to go. We’ll buy Grandpa a new one.” Kevin’s grandpa had lived with them since Grandma’s death. She went on to say, “Kevin, Let’s take the chair to the curb (马路边). Tomorrow the garbage truck is coming to our block.”
As they attempted to move the chair, Grandpa walked toward them by dragging his feet through the door and quickly blocked their way. “Oh, no!” he protested (反对). “You can’t take my chair away.”
“It’s old and worn. We’ll buy you a new one,” Kevin’s mom argued.
“No,” Kevin’s grandpa replied, trying to push his chair back into place. “I don’t want a new one,” his voice trembled.
Kevin’s mom thought for a while and said she would discuss it with Kevin’s dad, who was still at work. Kevin’s mom left the living room to prepare the dinner. With a sigh of relief, the old man sat down in his chair and closed his eyes.
“Grandpa, why won’t you let us get rid of the chair? It’s so old,” Kevin asked his grandpa after his mom left the room.
“You don’t understand, Kevin,” Grandpa shook his head from side to side. After along pause, he said, “I sat in this chair, with your grandpa right here, when I asked her to marry me. When I sit in this chair and close my eyes, I feel as if she were next to me.” Grandpa softly stroked (轻抚) the arms of the chair. “And during the night when your father was born, I sat in this chair. I was nervous and scared when they placed the tiny baby into my arms, yet I felt so happy.” A smile flashed across his old face.
“I think I’m beginning to understand,” Kevin said thoughtfully. “The chair gives you comfort and warmth. This is not just a chair. It is more like a friend.” However, that night when Kevin and his grandpa were asleep, Kevin’s mom and dad carried the chair to the curb.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Where is my old chair?” Kevin’s grandpa thought and searched for it in the house the next morning.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Oh, it can be called a treasure of our family,” Kevin’s mom said.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.发贴的目的；
2. City walk的时间和地点；
3.对同伴的期待。
注意：1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Hey, I’m Li Hua.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When Renee Butts was little, her dream was to become a volunteer firefighter because her father was one. Though her father’s work was hard and full of danger, he never made a
Now Renee, who used to be an astronomer, is a member of the Carme Fire Department now, where she is required to be an Emergency Medical Technician. Once a reporter asked her, “I wonder if all the skills necessary to act as a firefighter have been mastered by you so far.” She replied, “I seem to have. Now a summary
Asked what the best part of her job was, Renee replied, “Helping people and saving lives.” I think that shows signs of being a true hero. Renee says that to some extent, her job is frightening at times, but extremely exciting. “To tell you
7 . 17-year-old Addison Bethea had her world turned upside down in late June when she was bitten by a shark while playing near Keaton Beach, Florida.
Addison is a cheerleader and a tennis player. And she is also quite young to experience such a serious
As a native of Florida, Addison knew that if
Addison’s elder brother, Rhett Willingham, was swimming nearby when he heard his sister
About her brother, Addison said, “He’s always been kind of
The injuries in Addison’s right leg were extremely serious.
| A．competition | B．accident | C．journey | D．quarrel |
| A．positive | B．bad | C．polite | D．rude |
| A．missed | B．touched | C．attacked | D．seen |
| A．another | B．herself | C．them | D．it |
| A．escape | B．sink | C．dive | D．swim |
| A．arguing | B．joking | C．screaming | D．singing |
| A．taxi | B．bus | C．train | D．boat |
| A．invitation | B．apology | C．care | D．rule |
| A．with | B．like | C．for | D．over |
| A．trouble | B．debt | C．wonder | D．charge |
| A．fight | B．relationship | C．system | D．tradition |
| A．Typically | B．Immediately | C．Cautiously | D．Fortunately |
| A．study | B．task | C．recovery | D．training |
| A．relied on | B．took on | C．put on | D．turned on |
| A．play | B．jump | C．run | D．survive |
8 . If you’ve seen the movie Cast Away, you probably remember the scene in which Tom Hanks’ character, who survived a plane crash and found a refuge on a desert island, struggles to crack open coconuts before finally figuring out how to make use of one and drink from it. Well, it turns out that, in such a situation, a coconut palm tree actually could be your best hope for survival.
The coconut palm tree is native to tropical islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a tall tree, growing as tall as 100 feet, and with a branchless, light gray trunk that’s swollen at the base and topped by a crown of arching green leaves that stretch as long as 20 feet. It has fragrant (芳香的) yellow flowers, which appear in groups, and of course coconuts, which technically are a fruit rather than a nut, grow up to 14 inches long.
The fruit has a wooden shell surrounded by a fibrous cover, but inside is the stuff that a person wants — the coconut meat, which can be eaten raw or cooked, and the drinkable liquid. The nutritional qualities of a coconut — its meat and its juice — are nothing short of miracles. The meat is high in health fats, which are very important for survival, and the juice is filled with minerals like copper, iron and zinc, and can keep your electrolytes (电解质) balanced and blood levels healthy.
In Hawaii, coconut palm trees are known as “niu”, and are considered as a very important food source. While they are not native to this place, they are one of the famous “canoe plants”. Some of the ancestors of the trees currently found in Hawaii also moved slowly on water to or on the shore, alive for up four months at sea, still able to germinate (发芽). They are the symbol of vitality. They are admired here so much that traditionally, a coconut palm tree is planted at the birth time of a child born in Hawaii.
1. Why does the author speak of the movie Cast Away in Para.1?| A．To explain the way to prevent a terrible situation. |
| B．To introduce the theme of the movie. |
| C．To lead in the topic of the text. |
| D．To show Tom Hank’s success. |
| A．The trunk of the tree is swollen at the top. |
| B．The tree can grow tall and has no branches. |
| C．Yellow flowers appear in groups without any smell. |
| D．Coconuts are a kind of nut instead of a kind of fruit. |
| A．It has a unique taste. | B．Its price is quite high. |
| C．It can help people remain healthy. | D．Its production is increasing. |
| A．They decorate their houses with green leaves of coconut trees. |
| B．They drink the liquid inside coconuts. |
| C．They have a taste of coconut meat. |
| D．They plant a coconut plum tree. |
9 . Bright and early on the morning of our first full day in Antarctica, L’ Austral’s Captain Fabien’s voice woke us up as it came through a loudspeaker. If we looked outside right now, he said, we’d see a beautiful sea of icebergs in the golden sunlight. My sister and I jumped out of bed, staring in amazement as we sailed past giant pieces of ice. In the distance, we spotted a group of humpback whales feeding on smaller fishes. Next door, my parents were also waking up to the sights of a new day in Antarctica. Over breakfast, my sister and I excitedly told them about the whales we saw from our room that morning.
You might not immediately think of “family vacation” when talking about a trip to Antarctica, but tour companies like Adventures by Disney are changing that. The company offers guided group trips to destinations across all seven continents in the world.
Our adventure started when we flew to Buenos Aires and explored the beautiful Argentine capital for a day. After leaving Buenos Aires, we flew to Ushuaia on an Adventures by Disney plane. Then, it was the journey toward the Drake Passage. After a speedy Drake Passage crossing, we reached Antarctica early, adding a half day to our scheduled four days on and around the continent.
To those unfamiliar with Adventures by Disney, the fact that you can experience Antarctica — the most distant, extreme continent — with Disney might be surprising. During the trip, there were thoughtful acts, from stamped postcards to send from an Antarctica post office to a champagne (香槟) party on our final stop of the journey; Adventures by Disney truly thought of everything for us. Antarctica is a life-changing destination packed with experiences that can’t be copied. We experienced seasickness when travelling across the Drake Passage, hiked up ice hills alongside lovely animals, and had a taste of champagne. And honestly, it’s going to be hard for the next family trip we may take to compete.
1. How did the author and her sister feel when sailing past the icebergs?| A．Frightened. | B．Confused. | C．Surprised. | D．Embarrassed. |
| A．They flew to Ushuaia. |
| B．They toured around Buenos Aires. |
| C．They passed through the Drake Passage. |
| D．They hiked up ice hills alongside lovely animals. |
| A．The author might feel bad when crossing the Drake Passage. |
| B．The author was the most impressed by the champagne party. |
| C．The author believes that their next travel will be more thrilling. |
| D．The author thought an Antarctica post office should be established. |
| A．Exploring Antarctica — A Place with Various Animals |
| B．An Antarctic Adventure for Scientific Research |
| C．A Comfortable Travel Experience |
| D．A Family’s Journey to Antarctica |
| A．At home. | B．On the plane. | C．On an island. |
