1 . Achenyo soon arrived at the water’s edge with her pot, and she found a huge surprise. The river was
“Oh no!” Achenyo heard the adults crying, “They’ve
Last year, the rainy season had brought a(n)
What a shame to
“Mama, will you teach me to weave?” asked Achenyo. Mama laughed. It was her wish to pass on the
One afternoon, Achenyo held up her finished work to Mama. It was neatly woven and well decorated. “What a nice mat!” They showed it to their neighbours, who were
| A．gone | B．shallow | C．ruined | D．dirty |
| A．risen | B．struck | C．crashed | D．recovered |
| A．fashion | B．area | C．invasion | D．line |
| A．chance | B．excuse | C．need | D．room |
| A．waste | B．forget | C．miss | D．grow |
| A．looked over | B．stopped by | C．walked through | D．pulled up |
| A．carefully | B．absent-mindedly | C．eagerly | D．warm-heartedly |
| A．mats | B．trade | C．tools | D．tradition |
| A．doubtful | B．hopeless | C．disappointed | D．stressed |
| A．since | B．if | C．though | D．until |
| A．useful | B．tricky | C．painful | D．risky |
| A．exhausted | B．optimistic | C．determined | D．intelligent |
| A．challenged | B．envious | C．inspired | D．curious |
| A．weavers | B．community | C．parents | D．school |
| A．symbol | B．consumer | C．means | D．provider |
2 . A new study examined scientists’ peer reviews, or researchers’ official statements on others’ work, across multiple AI-related conferences. At one such conference, those peer reviews used the word “meticulous” — a buzzword often associated with generative A.I., like ChatGPT — almost 3,400 percent more than the previous year. Other major conferences showed similar patterns. In other words, many researchers were handing, at least, parts of their peer review over to A.I.
What’s going on in science is a slice of a much bigger problem. Any viral post on social media now almost certainly includes A.I.-generated elements. There are synthetic videos for children on YouTube, like music videos about parrots where the birds have eyes within eyes, singing in an unnatural voice. The narratives make no sense, and characters appear and disappear randomly.
As a neuroscientist, this worries me. Isn’t it possible that human culture contains within it cognitive micronutrients — things like reasonable sentences, narrations and character continuity — that developing brains need? Einstein supposedly said: “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be very intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” But what happens when a child is consuming mostly A.I.-generated waste? We find ourselves in the middle of a vast developmental experiment.
A.I.’s cultural pollution is driven by a desire to fill the Internet’s appetite for content as cheaply as possible, which in turn pollutes our culture. And despite public appeals to act against it, A.I. companies are dragging their feet because it goes against the industry’s bottom line to have detectable products, which they fear might weaken the model’s performance, although there is no current evidence.
To deal with this general refusal to act, we need a Clean Internet Act. Perhaps the simplest solution would be to force built-in watermarking to A.I. generated outputs, like patterns not easily removable. Just as the 20th century required action to protect the shared environment, the 21st century is going to require actions to protect a different but equally critical resource: our shared human culture.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．Children should avoid social media. |
| B．A.I. writings are unreliable. |
| C．Synthetic elements make no sense. |
| D．A.I. pollution is widespread. |
| A．To promote experiments on reading. |
| B．To connect intelligence and fairy tales. |
| C．To show concerns over cognitive input quality. |
| D．To contrast stories with A.I. generated content. |
| A． Increasing the expense. |
| B．Adding permanent labels. |
| C．Creating various patterns. |
| D．Building more A.I. models. |
| A．A.I. Garbage Is Polluting our Culture |
| B．A.I. Companies Change Tech Industry |
| C．A.I. Performance Continues to Decline |
| D．A.I. Products Impact Scientific Research |
3 . Traveling to Europe can be so expensive. If you have a tight travel budget, we have other options for your next European vacation. We found some places as cheap as Thailand while looking as pretty as Spain, Greece or Italy.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is often characterized as being a country of stunning landscapes and friendly people with a rich history of culture. And it has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. In Bulgaria you can find accommodation for under fifteen dollars per night and a meal at a local restaurant will cost you no more than five dollars. From Sofia the capital, why not take a train to Istanbul for about fifteen dollars? What an adventure!
Romania
Romania is a country that not a lot of people know about, but it might be one you want to try on your next trip. Bucharest has a rich, historic architecture and a great nightlife for younger travelers. Besides the capital, there are many other beautiful places to explore in Romania, like you can go to Transylvania and see Dracula’s castle. Good accommodation and a lot of restaurants are available here at a low cost. What a deal!
Albania
A perfect alternative to Spain or Italy, Albania has a lot of history and culture, but without all the crowds of tourists that you’ll find in those places. It has some of the best beaches in Europe, so you can take advantage of that as well. The food is cheap and the average cost of accommodation in Albania is also low, with around thirty dollars per night for a mid-range budget.
1. What do the three travel options have in common?| A．Mild climate. | B．Delicious food. |
| C．Diverse culture. | D．Low travel costs. |
| A．Sofia. | B．Istanbul. | C．Bucharest. | D．Transylvania. |
| A．Attractive seaside views. | B．Satisfying tourist service. |
| C．Rich European culture. | D．Advanced public transport. |
4 . In a normal year, Dayna Reber, a business analyst for a technology consulting firm in Camp Hill, Penn., would finish reading around three books. Thanks to the way Covid-19 has completely changed her daily routine, however, Ms. Reber, 30— who now works from home and rarely socializes offline — has polished off 46 volumes so far in 2020. And that count doesn’t include the bedtime stories she reads to her 4-year-old.
For Ms. Reber and others, lockdown has brought back a passion for reading, both as beneficial time-filler when stuck at home and as a trusty escape. “When the coronavirus hit, I just felt a need to get away from TV and screens.”
If binge (放纵地) reading hasn’t fully replaced binge-watching Netflix shows quite yet, the trend is certainly making strides. In August 2020, year-over-year sales of print books in the U.S. were up 13%, according to NPD BookScan, which tracks book sales across the U.S. Publishers also report a notable increase in purchases of e-books, as well as all books about politics or related to civil rights, racism and diversity.
Independent booksellers, as well as publishers and authors, deserve considerable credit for fueling the page-turning trend. In March, Octavia Books introduced free shipping or delivery within New Orleans on orders of $25 or more. The bookstore also hosts author events via Zoom. And in Illinois, Page 1 Books established a subscription service, where customers fill out an online profile, noting their literary tastes, and then receive a package each month, a mix of hardcovers and paperbacks.
Jamie Miller, 34, a book blogger and “book-stagrammer” who lives in Harleysville, Penn, has long been a committed reader, but she says the hobby has meant far more importance this year. She now schedules a block of time every morning to read, typically a love or vivid novel. “Everything became so chaotic around me that it was just like what can I control?” said Ms. Miller. “My brain just wants something guaranteed to be a happy ending.”
1. What was a cause of Reber’s achievement in book reading?| A．Work requirement. | B．Pandemic lockdown. |
| C．Parenting experience. | D．Online recommendation. |
| A．On the way. | B．Keeping pace. |
| C．In great progress. | D．Drawing attention. |
| A．Opening new branches. | B．Offering sales promotions. |
| C．Mailing books for free. | D．Providing lending service. |
| A．Reasons behind a book reading hit. | B．Influence of lockdown on people. |
| C．Trend of video watching on Netflix. | D．Secret to offline bookstore success. |
The apsaras, angel-like beings known as feitian in Chinese, are a symbol of the city of Dunhuang. Here, in
Dunhuang has amazed the world with its nearby Mogao Caves, one of the greatest “storerooms” of ancient Buddhist art.
Today, the great impact of the murals, sculptures, scripts
As a major
6 . He really did look like a tourist, with a camera around his neck and a bottle of sunscreen sticking out of his bag. The fat man sat on the terrace (草坪), drinking lemonade, a little bit each time, and
As I brought him what he had ordered, he coughed up a “thank you” and looked at me
I walked back inside with my empty tray (托盘), shaking my head. He looked
Then it
He was gone.
I moved his saucer and found his tip, along with a
I am deeply
I trembled. The night of my car accident, I was heading for an interview in a shady dance club. Seeing human kindness through his
I
I said a silent
| A．pretending | B．asking | C．refusing | D．burning |
| A．beautified | B．masked | C．protected | D．comforted |
| A．picture | B．bottle | C．dish | D．page |
| A．shyly | B．worriedly | C．briefly | D．fixedly |
| A．kind | B．familiar | C．sad | D．puzzled |
| A．attracted | B．failed | C．moved | D．hit |
| A．funny | B．wealthy | C．mysterious | D．hungry |
| A．rushed | B．inched | C．struggled | D．danced |
| A．book | B．card | C．notice | D．poster |
| A．committed | B．attached | C．guilty | D．grateful |
| A．rob | B．visit | C．help | D．manage |
| A．friendly | B．heroic | C．traditional | D．exciting |
| A．happiness | B．glory | C．honesty | D．faith |
| A．dropped | B．doubted | C．unfolded | D．weighed |
| A．prayer | B．hello | C．congratulation | D．apology |
7 . 3D printing is taking home construction to new heights. In Houston, a giant printer is building what designers say is the first 3D-printed two-story house in the U. S. The machine has been pouring a concrete mix, one layer at a time, alongside a few on-site workers, to create a 4,000-square-foot home.
While construction 3D printing has been around for over a decade, the technology has only started to break ground in the U. S. homebuilding market over the last couple of years, said Leslie Lok, the architectural designer for the project. She said her team aims to eventually scale up their designs to be able to efficiently 3D print multifamily homes.
Supporters of the technology say 3D printing could address a range of construction challenges, including labor shortages and building more flexible homes in the face of natural disasters. With the Houston home, the team is pushing the industrial printer to its limits to understand how it can improve the technology, in the quest to quickly build cost-effective and well-designed homes. “In the future, it has to be fast, simple design in order to compete with other building technologies,” said Hikmat Zerbe, head of structural engineering.
Zerbe calls the two-story house a “big laboratory” where they will study the technology’s potentials in home construction. “We are not trying to beat the clock,” he said. “It’s a case study. We’re learning the capabilities of the machine, learning the reaction of the material under different weather conditions,” he said. Concrete can better withstand strong winds and storms, but it’s a pricier building material. Once the 3D-printing technology is improved, Zerbe said, builders may reach a point where such construction is cheaper than non-printed housing.
On the design side, Lok sees opportunity to one day offer unique customized features at a mass scale, without heavy labor costs. “The printer doesn’t care if you print the same chair 100 times or you print 100 different chairs,” she said. “This opens up the possibility of how we can actually offer customized design for the users, whether it’s a single-family house or a multifamily building.”
1. What is the current goal of Lok’s team?| A．To control the homebuilding market. | B．To improve quake-resistant designs. |
| C．To mass-produce 3D-printed houses. | D．To build special customized houses. |
| A．Reduced labor costs. | B．Simplified designs. |
| C．Strengthened materials. | D．Expanded functions. |
| A．They use cheaper building materials. | B．They are innovating the technology. |
| C．They try to finish it in a shorter time. | D．They are gaining experience from it. |
| A．It can produce large numbers of the same copies. |
| B．It can make different products in large quantities. |
| C．It can not tell the differences in customers’ needs. |
| D．It can not be used in building multifamily houses. |
8 . When it comes to describing the human experience through music, few artists do it as genuinely as Chris Difford. In his song, “Fat As A Fiddle” -a word play on the idiom “fit as a fiddle” (非常健康), Difford dives into a deeply personal topic -his struggles with weight and body image. The song provides a window into his inner thoughts and emotions, allowing listeners to sympathize with his journey.
The song begins with Difford acknowledging his own body size, declaring “I’m never thin.” It’s a statement that many people can relate to, as the pressure to follow society’s standard s of beauty can often lead to feelings of non-confidence and self-doubt. However, as he reflects on himself, he realizes that there is a greater part of him than just his physical appearance. “I look like a tree, there’s a greater part of me.” This line highlights the importance of looking beyond physical appearances and recognizing the depth of a person’s character.
In the following lines, Difford expresses the challenges he faces due to his weight gain. Putting on his socks in the morning becomes a struggle. He recalls the days when he was thinner and popular among the girls. These reflections demonstrate the impact that weight gain can have on one’s self-confidence and perception of their own attractiveness.
As the song progresses, Difford discusses the consequences of his love for eating. He acknowledges that eating to your heart’s content may be enjoyable, but it comes at a price. He adopts a healthy diet, going for brown rice and herbal tea, hoping to find balance. In the final part, however, Difford stresses that his worth is not merely determined by his physical appearance, but rather by his inner strength and character.
“Fat As A Fiddle” encourages self-reflection and self-love. Difford’s journey towards embracing his greater self serves as an inspiration for others who may be facing similar struggles to look beyond the surface and appreciate the beauty that lies within each individual.
1. What is this text?| A．A music review. | B．A phrase explanation. |
| C．A culture research. | D．A weight loss story. |
| A．The challenges Difford overcomes. | B．The problems weight gain causes. |
| C．The good memories Difford enjoys. | D．The experiences fat people share. |
| A．He is attractive and popular with girls. | B．He is friendly but lacks self-discipline. |
| C．He is strong outside and loving inside. | D．He is overweight but proud of his worth. |
| A．Plan on dieting to reduce weight. | B．Appreciate your internal charm. |
| C．Realize the importance of health. | D．Ignore others’ negative opinions. |
9 . Recently, a tapping sound outside a window led me to look up and spot an unfamiliar red-headed woodpecker in a nearby tree. Curious, I pulled out a phone and soon became familiar with the Pileated Woodpecker.
Scientists have often seen curiosity as a motivation that drives us to discover new information as soon as possible. In previous research on curiosity, when people were given the choice between receiving the answer now or later, they generally chose the fastest path to resolution. Psychologists think the state of not knowing can be discomforting, which then motivates a search for information that, when obtained, is met with relief and satisfaction.
But this picture of curiosity is incomplete. In a recent study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, we explored whether there are multiple flavors of curiosity. We found that while stimulating interest can indeed drive an urgent desire for answers, it can also boost patience, setting people up for those moments of discovery.
We asked more than 2,000 people aged 19 to 76 to watch a series of short videos that we created for an online experiment. Each video started with a blank screen. A line would then appear and squiggle around (蠕动), gradually taking a shape. While our participants watched each video, we asked them to report how curious they were about what the drawing would become. Their replies let us judge how curiosity changed as people saw more and more of a video. We also gave them the choice to keep watching the drawing slowly unfold or to jump to the end of the video, revealing the whole picture immediately.
Interestingly, when participants were more curious about what the drawing would become, they were more likely to continue watching rather than skip ahead to the answer. In other words, higher curiosity motivated people to slow down, be patient and invest in experiencing the winding path to resolution.
Our work underlines the complexity of curiosity and its power. Developing curiosity can help us enjoy the process of learning and overcoming challenges.
1. Why does the writer mention his experience with the woodpecker?| A．To show his interest in birds. | B．To support his recent study. |
| C．To correct misunderstanding. | D．To lead to a known theory. |
| A．Different impacts. | B．Various forms. | C．Strong motivations. | D．Special tastes. |
| A．They wouldn’t be given the answer earlier. | B．They willingly waited long for the answer. |
| C．They didn’t show a high level of curiosity. | D．They needed to report their curiosity level. |
| A．Curiosity: An Urgent Desire for Learning | B．Curiosity: The Drive through the Process |
| C．Curious Learners: Faced with Challenges | D．Curious Learners: Eager For Information |
To some people, the sizzle and clatter of restaurant kitchens might be like an orchestra; to me, such sounds behind the swinging doors just meant chaos. However unpleasant I felt the places were, I decided to apply for a part-time job at a popular restaurant. The reason was simple: I needed money. I wanted to join a camping trip to the Blue Mountains with my friends, but that would cost about 150 dollars. “You have to pay for entertainment by yourself,” my parents said.
So I applied, and Mr. Smith, the boss of the restaurant, allowed me to have a try. My job was super easy and boring: the newly prepared dishes would be put at the counter between the kitchen and dining room, and it was my duty to deliver them to the right customers.
The first few days were tiring but OK. However, setbacks soon followed as I struggled to keep pace during a particularly busy lunch rush. I awkwardly spilled a tray of drinks, making loud noises and the floor messy. I was embarrassed and began to feel nervous. One evening, I mixed up orders for a large party, causing chaos and frustration.
I felt desperate. I screwed everything up. Then I heard Mr. Smith call me, and I went into his office with my head low. To my surprise, he didn’t blame me. Instead, he made me a cup of coffee. “Relax, young man,” he said. “Try to smile. Things always go wrong if you can’t really enjoy what you’re doing. Feel the fun in the job, and you’ll be OK!”
I thought he was right. The next day when I was working, I glimpsed into the kitchen and was amazed: in the narrow and crowded space everyone was busy — the chefs swirling (翻动) pans, the manager yelling customers’ requirements, others coming and going with dishes to deliver — but everything went smoothly without any lumping or bumping. This was incredible!
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。
My attitudes towards the restaurant job began to change.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the last day of my contract, I went into Mr. Smith’s office again when I finished my job.
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