1 . “The Worthington Christian defeated the Westerville North by 2—1 in an Ohio boys’ soccer game on Saturday.” That’s according to a story that appeared last month in The Columbus Dispatch. That lead was written not by a sportswriter, but by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool.

Many news organizations are now examining how AI might be used in their work. But if they begin their “experimenting” with high school sports because they are less momentous than war, peace, climate change and politics, they may miss something crucial. Nothing may be more important to the students who play high school sports, and to their families, neighborhoods, and sometimes, the whole town. That next game is what the students train for, work toward, and dream about. Someday, almost all student athletes will go on to have jobs in front of screens, in office parks, at schools, in hospitals or on construction sites. They may suffer blows and setbacks. But the high school games they played and watched, as well as their hopes and cheers, will stay vivid in their memories.

I have a small idea. If newspapers will no longer send staff reporters to cover high school games, why not hire high school student journalists? News organizations can pay students an hourly wage to cover high school games. The young reporters might learn how to be fair to all sides, write vividly, and attract readers. That’s what some celebrities in sports did, and do.

And think of the great writers who were inspired by sports: Hemingway on fishing, Bernard Malamud and Marianne Moore on baseball, Chen Zhongshi on football, and CLR James on cricket, who said, “There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable (不可避免的) ups and downs of only a game.” A good high school writer, unlike a robot, could tell readers not just the score, but the stories of the game.

1. Why is the lead mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To introduce an original idea.	B．To show AI’s wide application.
C．To bring in the opinion about AI.	D．To stress AI’s importance to news.

2. What does the author think of high school games?

A．Hopeful.

B．Eye-catching.

C．Competitive.

D．Far-reaching.

3. What is good sports news like according to the author?

A．Rich in contents.	B．Fair in comments.
C．Centered on results.	D．Targeted on readers.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．News Organizations Are Abusing AI	B．High Schoolers Can Do What AI Can’t
C．Great Writers Are Crazy About Sports	D．AI Ruins High School Students’ Memory

2 . It’s happened to all of us: a song comes on the radio, and we are immediately transported back to a time in our past.     1    

There are a few things that connect tunes with our memories. Music is often a necessary element of many important life events, and it is also very effective in arresting our attention.     2     Besides, the emotional nature of music helps make it particularly memorable.

We often become familiar with a piece of music because we hear it as background music. The more familiar a piece of music is, the more effective it is in bringing back memories.     3     The reason is that we are far more likely to hear a song over and over again than to watch a film or a TV programme in the same way.

Tiffany Jenkins, writing for a culture column, has a different opinion:     4     She tells us how throughout history oral cultures have passed important knowledge from generation to generation through songs because of this characteristic. The rhythm (韵律) and rhyme in lines of songs all serve as memory aids.

    5     This fact corresponds with what many experts call the “reminiscence bump (怀旧性记忆)”, where older adults (over forty) have increased recollection of events that occurred during their adolescence and early adulthood.

It’s clear that our memories and music are closely linked — to the point that music is being used to help Alzheimer’s disease sufferers access memories that they thought they had lost.

A．Familiarity is important.

B．Music itself is easy to remember.

C．But what makes music so effective in doing this?

D．Our musical preference usually forms during our teens.

E．This applies to music more than other cultural products.

F．Pop music especially can be connected with an important memory.

G．Music and these life events are likely to be linked together in our memories.

3 . Teaching comedy is a delicate craft that Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Teaching Artists handle with expertise. Sabrina Mandell, specializing in clowning and physical comedy, believes in starting with examples of what she finds funny, helping students understand humor and its subtlety (微妙之处). She emphasizes the importance of discovering what works for individuals rather than specifying a right way.

Overcoming fear is crucial in comedy, with Mark Jaster noting that comedians must be willing to push beyond social norms. Sabrina also advocates opening up emotionally, recognizing the closeness of laughter and tears. After all, pushing students to face fear head-on can tap into their full comedic potential.

Precision is also essential in comedy, requiring crisp, clean, and well-timed performance. Jim Gagne emphasizes the need for precision in comedy compared to the flexibility allowed in drama. Teaching comedic timing is challenging, with some students naturally possessing the talent, while others need more guidance to refine this essential skill. Jim, however, believes it can be developed through awareness, practice, and thorough exploration.

Play and fun are crucial in teaching comedy. Sabrina emphasizes the importance of rediscovering the joy of play. Mark envisions a comedy lab where exploring its mysteries is as significant as its performance.

Despite the desire for laughs, teachers emphasize the importance of storytelling within comedic scenes. Jim provides a valuable insight: “In drama, you throw the dishes down; in comedy, you throw them up.” This comparison underscores that comedy demands a different approach, one that is more lighthearted and humorous. Nevertheless, the ultimate goal is to truly engage the audience and genuinely make them laugh.

1. What does Sabrina Mandell find important when teaching comedy?

A．Conveying her sense of humor to students.	B．Prioritizing storytelling over humor.
C．Focusing on creating physical humor.	D．Inspiring students to explore their humor.

2. Facing fear bravely is considered crucial in comedy because ______.

A．fear is one of the primary sources of humor	B．comedians need to go beyond social conventions
C．laughter and tears enhance the comedic effect	D．it enables people to unlock comedic potential

3. How does Jim Gagne view the precision in comedy?

A．He considers it merely a natural gift.

B．He emphasizes precision more in comedy than in drama.

C．He thinks teaching precision requires a sense of timing.

D．He believes precision in comedy is similar to flexibility in drama.

4. What can we learn about comedy from the passage?

A．Comedy aims to find out mysteries.

B．Comedy requires a serious and dramatic approach.

C．Comedy brings the audience new inspirations.

D．Comedy can be taught through play and exploration.

4 . Over the last two million years, our species has experienced a significant increase in brain volume, contributing to our perceived intelligence and dominance. However, recent research led by Jeremy DeSilva from Dartmouth College reveals an unexpected turn: our brains diminished (缩减) in size after the last Ice Age, about 3,000 to 5,000 years ago.

Contrary to the initial belief that brain size reduction matched the appearance of agriculture 10,000 years ago, DeSilva’s team points to a more recent period marked by the flourishing and advancement of ancient civilizations in North Africa, the Middle East, and South America. They suggest that the shrinkage may be linked to the development of cooperative societies and what researchers term “Collective intelligence,” where group problem-solving goes beyond individual capabilities.

Inspiration for this idea came from observations of “ultra-social” insects like ants, where smaller-brained individuals succeed in highly cooperative societies. The researchers suggest that as human societies became more organized over the past 3,000 years, the need for an individually large brain to store information about food, relationships, and the environment diminished. Instead, information could be collectively stored within social circles, towns, and groups.

The rise of external information storage, including books, personal devices, and the internet, further lessened the demand on individual brains, allowing them to operate more efficiently. While the average human brain volume remained around 1,450 cubic centimeters for the past 150,000 years, it decreased by approximately 10%, or up to 150 cubic centimeters, in the last few millennia. This reduction in brain size is not a direct consequence of shrinking bodies, as the relative size to body proportion also decreased.

Importantly, researchers advise against equating brain size with intelligence, suggesting that our mental circuitry (回路) may have evolved to be more efficient, similar to the advancements seen in the evolution of computer sizes from room-filling to pocket sized.

1. What does the recent research by Jeremy DeSilva reveal?

A．Agriculture appears 10,000 years ago.

B．“Ultra- social” insects become more organized.

C．The human brain size diminishes after the last Ice Age.

D．Group problem-solving goes beyond individual capabilities.

2. Researchers suggest human brain size has reduced due to ______.

A．the advancement of ancient civilizations

B．the change of the environment

C．decreased external information storage

D．cooperative societies and “collective intelligence”

3. Which of the following might the author agree with?

A．Decreased body proportion leads to smaller brains.

B．A larger brain guarantees higher intelligence.

C．People should prioritize brain size over mental circuitry.

D．Social factors have lessened the demand on individual brains.

4. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．Surprising Changes in Human Brain Volume.

B．Social Adaptation and Human Brain Shrinkage.

C．The History of Brain Size Reduction in Humans.

D．Exploring the Evolution of Human Cognitive Abilities.

5 . 假如你是高一学生李华，你将代表你们班参加学校即将举办的一场英语演讲比赛，题目为“数字化时代的困扰：战胜互联网瘾的征程”。
演讲的内容包括：
1、网瘾的危害；
2、摆脱网瘾的方法。
注意：开头结尾已给出；字数100字左右。

Hi, everyone!

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Thanks, everyone!

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Last month, scientists from Harvard Medical School talked about EVEscape in the journal Nature. This model is all about figuring out how viruses change. It learned from the history of how viruses     1     (change) over time, and you can give it a lot of details about a virus. Then it can guess how the virus might change, especially in     2     its proteins (蛋白质) work when the immune system puts pressure on it.

    3     (show) what EVEscape can do, scientists gave it the     4     (origin) code of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They did this months before the virus caused the COVID pandemic. Guess what? EVEscape predicted almost all the changes that happened during the pandemic, even the ones we know by names like Omicron and Beta. The Harvard team keeps     5     (give) EVEscape new data about SARS-CoV-2     6     (regular), so it’s like a fortune teller for what COVID might do next.

People are wondering if EVEscape could be the solution     7     stopping pandemics. In an article that goes along with     8     paper, scientists Nash Rochman and Eugene Koonin from the National Center for Biotechnology Information really praised EVEscape. They said, “This way of doing things could     9     (use) to guess what changes might happen in viruses that stick around in the population. It can help make better vaccines (疫苗) and even guess how     10     (risk) a pandemic might be for viruses we don’t know much about yet, even before we figure out their 3D structure.”

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

In the quiet of the earthquake shelter, I found myself calling out to a nameless cat, hoping for the familiar sound of a meow or the sight of a black and white figure running toward me. My worry grew as time passed, realizing that the cat I had been feeding for months, the highlight of my day, was nowhere to be seen.

Our unlikely friendship began on a cold night as I sat on those same cement (水泥) steps, rain soaking through my pants. The only light came from my last cigarette, exposing the pieces of a broken picture frame and a handwritten letter illustrating the consequences of the earthquake on my computer screen. Having experienced the impact of an explosion in the earthquake, I returned home with a severe brain injury and PTSD, facing challenges in adapting at Fort Riley, Kansas. Anxiety seized me, and each day felt like a struggle. That night, as I wrestled with the pain of depression with the last drag of my cigarette, a faint “Meow?” echoed through the darkness.

A small black and white kitten with round green eyes emerged from the bushes, wet and seeking shelter. Fearlessly, he approached me, rubbing against my legs. As I reached down to pet him, he leaned into my touch, purring (猫的呼噜声). In that moment, tears blending with the rain on my face, I found an unexpected companion. The kitten stood there, as if understanding my desperate need for companionship.

Looking into his eyes, I realized he was a wanderer. The plan to end it all was briefly set aside; now, my mission was to find him food. The cigarette was forgotten as I stood up, determined to tackle his problems since I couldn’t face my own.

A routine developed—daily visits to the back steps with a packet of tuna (金枪鱼) and a paper plate. The kitten, a source of comfort and purpose, became more than just a reason to live. Over time, he inspired me to seek help for my depression and find the confidence to enter a serious relationship with Becky, a high school classmate from Pittsburgh.

Despite the fear of losing my new found companion, roll call and the early morning darkness forced me indoors. Worried that I had seen the last of him, I called Becky, expressing my concerns. The hope of his return remained, but he never did.

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。
One day, Becky and I found an animal adoption event near the base, surrounded by various cats.
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In July 2009, Scout moved with me to Pittsburgh.
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8 . How Can We Trust AI If We Don’t Know How It Works

Alien minds, in the form of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, surround us in daily life, powering facial recognition, determining creditworthiness, and even creating poetry and code.     1    

Many AI systems, particularly those based on deep learning neural networks, have trillions of parameters (参数), making their decision-making processes opaque (不透明的) — a phenomenon known as the AI explainability problem.     2    

Unlike humans who can justify their decisions based on ethical principles, AI lacks the ability to explain its decision-making, failing the predictive requirement for trust. Consider situations like the “Trolley Problem,” where a self-driving car must make a difficult decision without the capacity to provide a human-like explanation.

Trust relies not only on explainability and predictability but also on ethical or moral motivations. Humans expect others to act not just as they assume they will, but also as they should.     3     It fails to adapt its behavior in line with ethical principles or human expectations, leading to the AI consistency and trust problem.

    4     However, the increasing adoption of AI suggests a future where nested AI systems may dominate, limiting human intervention opportunities in rapid decision-making scenarios. This emphasizes the pressing need to address and resolve issues related to explainability and ensuring that AI systems align with human values and goals.

The integration of AI into vital systems, such as electric grids and military operations, heightens the importance of trust.     5    

In conclusion, AI lacks the predictability and ethical elements that would make it inherently trustworthy. Addressing the challenges of explainability and alignment is essential to ensure that AI systems earn and maintain human trust in critical applications. Further research in this area is needed to pave the way for trustworthy AI systems in the future.

A．As a result, understanding why AI systems make specific decisions is challenging, raising concerns about their trustworthiness.

B．However, AI operates with a fixed way of thinking molded by training data.

C．Addressing and resolving the issue before it reaches a critical point becomes crucial.

D．These are contexts where undesirable behavior could lead to severe consequences.

E．To enhance trust, proposals have been made to involve humans in AI decision-making, either in the loop or on the loop.

F．Due to the lack of unpredictability, people find it impossible to interpret the specific factors influencing Al-driven decisions.

G．However, the trustworthiness of these AI systems faces significant challenges due to their limited explainability and unpredictability.

9 . We Need to Think about Conservation on a Different Timescale

Time, perceived by humans in days, months, and years, contrasts with nature’s grander scales of centuries and millennia, referred to as “deep time.” While paleontologists (古生物学者) are trained to think in deep time, conservationists are realizing the challenges it poses. Shortsightedness about time limits modern conservation, with efforts often overlooking past healthy conditions of ecosystems in the context of climate and biodiversity crises.

The shifting baseline syndrome (综合症), where standards in a place change gradually, makes conservation more complex. It involves evaluating ecosystems primarily on their recent past, often with negative consequences.

Recent shifts in California’s forest management practices, from stopping fires to embracing Indigenous knowledge of controlled burns, exemplify the importance of understanding historical ecosystem dynamics. To enhance conservation, adopting a deep-time approach is crucial.

Modern mathematical modeling, combined with long-term data, offers a pathway for preserving ecosystems. In California’s kelp (海带、海藻) forest, researchers identified an overlooked keystone species — the extinct Seller’s Sea Cow (大海牛). By examining past kelp forests, a deeper story impacting regeneration was revealed. The sea cow, a massive plant-cater, contributed to a diverse, vital undergrowth by trimming kelp and letting light reach the area.

The researchers put forward a novel approach to kelp forest restoration: selectively harvesting kelp, imitating the sea cow’s impact. This strategy, considering historical dynamics, challenges assumptions about recent ecosystems and offers new conservation methods.

Rather than only focusing on removing urchins (海胆) or reintroducing sea otters, the researchers suggest employing teams of humans to selectively harvest kelp, as the Steller’s sea cow once did, to encourage fresh growth. This sustainable harvest could benefit both the ecosystem and human consumption.

In short, assumptions based on the recent past may impede the understanding and protection of ecosystems. On the other hand, the application of controlled burns, similar modeling studies, and a deep-time perspective (视角) could significantly transform conservation efforts. Recognizing our role in an ongoing narrative spanning millions of years is essential, urging a comprehensive understanding of ecosystems through time. Embracing this role is crucial for shaping the future and establishing vital connections from the past to the future.

1. What is the “shifting baseline syndrome,” mentioned in the passage?

A．A syndrome that affects human beings’ perception of time.

B．A phenomenon where ecological standards shift in a place.

C．A psychological disorder common among conservationists.

D．A condition where ecosystems change gradually over time.

2. What is the significance of deep-time perspectives in conservation?

A．It promotes the prevention of wildfires.	B．It aids in mathematical modeling efforts.
C．It helps reveal historical ecosystem dynamics.	D．It enhances human consumption of ecosystems.

3. What does the underlined word “impede” most probably mean?

A．Reform.

B．Disrupt.

C．Quicken.

D．Deepen.

4. In terms of conservation, what can we learn from this passage?

A．Shifting baseline syndrome has positive ecological changes.

B．Mathematical modeling with the latest data can be effective.

C．Deep-time perspective and historical dynamics are crucial.

D．Recent history is more preferred in ecosystem restoration.

10 . It all began innocently—I rushed to the local market for a few items, deciding not to use a cart (推车). As I approached the checkout area with my hands full, it was clear that the _________ service management had momentarily checked out. Three cashiers faced long lines, and chaos _________ with shoppers and carts full of groceries.

Like most, I surveyed the checkout lines, _________ choosing what seemed the fastest. However, my choice turned out to be the slowest, and _________ spread through the line. A middle-aged man murmured, setting off a chain reaction of complaints about the slow pace. The negativity _________, with one person declaring they would never shop there again.

_________ by the negativity, I turned my attention to the stressed cashier. The crowd’s displeasure didn’t _________ her work; instead, her stress increased, leading to mistakes and the need for a supervisor (主管). As my turn approached, I _________ the cashier’s discomfort, trembling and sweating despite the cold store.

In a(an) _________ tone, I said, “Some days are quite the adventure, aren’t they?” The cashier, relieved to see a_ __________ face, met my eyes and smiled. I encouraged her, saying impatience affects everyone, and I was in no rush.

Then came a(an) __________ lesson, a gift I never imagined. By sharing it, I hope to ________ others. The cashier thanked me for my patience, revealing she was a new employee still in training. We shared a laugh, and in that moment, strangers became friends.

Leaving the store, I felt __________ for the experience, unlike the dissatisfied shoppers. This incident taught that in the journey of love and understanding, mistakes happen, and patience is a __________ learning process. We are all, and always will be, in training when it comes to __________.

1.

A．community

B．delivery

C．customer

D．emergency

2.

A．erupted

B．extended

C．prevented

D．disturbed

3.

A．pessimistically

B．confidently

C．joyfully

D．curiously

4.

A．news

B．information

C．awareness

D．dissatisfaction

5.

A．spread

B．changed

C．exploded

D．ended

6.

A．Controlled

B．Managed

C．Surrounded

D．Directed

7.

A．accomplish

B．quicken

C．conclude

D．perform

8.

A．suffered

B．experienced

C．expressed

D．sensed

9.

A．effortless

B．depressed

C．formal

D．easygoing

10.

A．friendly

B．confused

C．happy

D．expressionless

11.

A．moral

B．experimental

C．unexpected

D．painful

12.

A．escape

B．enrich

C．excite

D．embrace

13.

A．wisdom

B．knowledge

C．judgment

D．appreciation

14.

A．gentle

B．continuous

C．forbidden

D．serious

15.

A．love

B．talent

C．gift

D．experience