1 . Facial recognition software has found an unlikely new application: scanning the faces of thousands of British children in school canteens.
Nine schools in North Ayrshire will today start taking lunch payments by scanning the faces of pupils, claiming that the new system speeds up queues and is more secure than the card payments and fingerprint scanners they used previously. “It’s the fastest way of recognising someone at the till,” said David Swanston, the managing director of CRB Cunninghams, the company that installed the systems. “In a secondary school you have around a 25-minute period to serve potentially 1,000 pupils. So we need fast productivity at the point of sale.” He said the average transaction time was cut to five seconds per pupil.
However, privacy campaigners say there is little need to spread out facial recognition technology, which has been criticized for often operating without gaining approvals from the owners. Swanston argued that CRB Cunningham’s system, which uses cameras to check against coded face-print modes stored on servers at the schools, was different from live facial recognition systems that scan through crowds to identify faces. Live facial recognition has previously caused debate after being used by schools for security or to monitor attendance.
North Ayrshire committee said that 97 percent of children or their parents had given agreement for the new system. “Pupils often forget their PINs and unfortunately some have also been the victim of PIN cheating, so they are supportive of the planned developments and appreciate the benefits to them,” the council said.
But some parents said they were unsure whether their children had been given enough information to make their decision, and suggested that peer pressure had also played a role.
1. What can we infer from Swanston’s word?| A．He speaks highly of the system. |
| B．The software is intended to promote the sales. |
| C．The technology has previously caused debate. |
| D．The system will be helpful when the students forget their PINs. |
| A．It speeds up the queues. |
| B．It is safer than the previous payments. |
| C．It operates without being approved of. |
| D．It benefits the pupils who often forget their PINs. |
| A．Supportive | B．Disapproved |
| C．Objective | D．Critical |
| A．Facial recognition has been the best way adopted so far. |
| B．Parents disagree with the application of facial recognition system. |
| C．The facial recognition system can benefit the pupils who are forgetful. |
| D．Schools speed up canteen queues with facial recognition technology. |
2 . Micro-plastics have occupied almost every part of the planet today, including the most distant reaches.
The Arctic is far from clean, though it s rarely stepped in by visitors. Melanie Bergmann, a marine ecologist (海洋生态学家) and her colleagues had been studying plastics on the Arctic seafloor since 2002. In deep sea, they found about 6,0000 particles (微粒) in every 2.2 pounds of mud. In sea ice, there were as much as 12,000 pieces per 34 ounces of melted ice.
Scientists measured micro-plastics in snow from this distant location and found a lot, which could only have caught rides on the wind. The study raises concerns about the pollution that micro-plastics brought to the air, bringing a health risk to people and animals that breathe them in. But they are less worried about the threat that breathed-in pollutants have to wildlife than about polluted snow going into water.
The science on the health effects of micro-plastics is still going on.“For human health, we now now very little," says micro-plastics researcher Chelsea Rochman, “There is a lot of concern. For wildlife, we know that micro-plastics may go into every level of the food chain." Laboratory studies find some physical and chemical effects from micro-plastics, but the findings vary by the plastic type, shape experiments will be carried out soon with use of equipment if financial support approves."
Even worse is the threat from airborne micro-plastics in the area---too small to be noticed and may actually enter cells. Research on that also has been done and it could be a bigger problem, according to Rochman.
1. What can you learn from the data in Paragraph 2?| A．Visitors rarely step into the Arctic. |
| B．Micro-plastics threaten the human beings. |
| C．Micro- plastics are everywhere in the world. |
| D．The Arctic suffers serious micro-plastics pollution. |
| A．Wildlife's threat by micro-pollutants. |
| B．Human beings breathing micro-plastics in. |
| C．Micro-plastics entering the water ecosystem. |
| D．Micro-plastics pollution worsening global warming. |
| A．Damage of micro-plastics to health. |
| B．Appeals for environmental protection. |
| C．Findings about airborne micro-plastics in the Arctic. |
| D．Measures to solve micro-plastics pollution. |
| A．Science. | B．Health. |
| C．Education. | D．Entertainment. |
3 . On a cold November morning in Y osemite National Park, on the south-west face of EL Capitan, Alex Honnold holds on to the side of the wall with nothing but the tips of his fingers and two thin edges of shoes, attempting to do something that professionals have long wanted to do--a“free solo” climb of the world's most terrifying cliff (悬崖). That means he is alone and climbing without a rope as he makes his way up more than half a mile of rock.
Paul Preuss, the father of the free soloing, stated the key of the climbing was to master a mountain with superior physical and mental skill, not “artificial aid". Having made some 150 ropeless climbs by the age of 27, he fell to his death in 1913 while free soloing in the Austrian Alps. But Preuss's ideas survived and inspired the “free climbing”movement of the 1960s, which supported using ropes and other safety equipment. The next free soloist appeared in 1973, when Henry Barber climbed up the 1,00--feet north face of Yosemite's Sentinel Rock without a rope. In 1976, John Bachar free soloed New Dimensions, a 300-foot cliff in Yosemite and Peter Croft free soloed two of Yosemite's most celebrated routes--- Astroman and Rostrum--in the same day.
Croft's achievement stood until 2007, when Honnold, then 22, astonished the world by repeating Croft's Astroman--Rostrum masterpiece and free soloed two famously tough routes in Zion National Park and Y osemite. Now, Honnold is attempting much higher goals and he is well on his way to completing the greatest rock climb in history.
1. What can you learn about Alex Honnold from Paragraph 1?| A．He climbed with many other people. |
| B．He attempted to climb with artificial aid. |
| C．He free soloed the south-west face of EL Capitan with enough safety equipment. |
| D．He was the first person to attempt to free solo the south -west face of EL Captain. |
| A．Lived longer. | B．Continued to exist. |
| C．Escaped. | D．Succeeded. |
| A．Climbers mustn't use aid of any kind in climbing. |
| B．One' s strength and will matter a lot while free soloing. |
| C．Climbers should use any safety devices while free soloing. |
| D．Ropes could only be used as an“artificial aid”while free soloing. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Encouraged. |
| C．Stubborn. | D．Disappointed. |
4 . The Art Museum of Chicago
•Visiting time
The museum is open daily 10:30 am - 5:00 pm. The museum and its shops are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Highlights (亮点）of the Art Museum
•American Art
Discover how artists have expressed many aspects of the American experience through the rich variety of this collection.
•Impressionism: Monet, Degas, Renoir and More
Learn about the color and excitement of late 19th-century life as you view one of the most admired collections of French Impressionism in the world.
•Hidden Histories
Hear stories about artists and their artworks that may be overlooked or under-appreciated for one reason or another.
•For families with children
It is free for kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18, and the Art Museum is the perfect place for an outing with the whole family. Visit the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center, build architectural wonders with colorful blocks, and learn about art through stories and games.
1. When can you visit the museum?| A．On Thanksgiving Day. | B．On Christmas Day. |
| C．On April Fool’s Day. | D．On New Year’s Day. |
| A．A 19- year-old Chicago student. | B．A 13-year-old girl. |
| C．A 17- year-old Chicago girl. | D．A 9- year-old pupil. |
| A．Tell stories about artists and their artworks. |
| B．Learn about the color and excitement of 18th-century life. |
| C．Discover how artists have expressed the African experience. |
| D．Pay a visit to the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center. |
5 . A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring. Knowing her husband could
As her birthday approached, this lady awaited
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband told her how
Many years later, the lady
She arrived at his house, filled with great
If your
| A．offer | B．afford | C．provide | D．admit |
| A．symbols | B．signals | C．sights | D．signs |
| A．generous | B．regretful | C．thankful | D．disappointed |
| A．handed | B．sent | C．introduced | D．delivered |
| A．besides | B．however | C．otherwise | D．moreover |
| A．rose | B．aroused | C．raised | D．arose |
| A．happy | B．astonished | C．admirable | D．angry |
| A．appeared | B．lived | C．worked | D．traveled |
| A．started off | B．stayed up | C．set in | D．gave up |
| A．gifts | B．goods | C．money | D．belongings |
| A．hate | B．regret | C．joy | D．love |
| A．still | B．ever | C．just | D．even |
| A．smiles | B．interest | C．doubt | D．tears |
| A．made | B．written | C．created | D．spoken |
| A．bad | B．small | C．good | D．abandoned |
| A．dropped | B．hid | C．came | D．followed |
| A．thing | B．gift | C．letter | D．book |
| A．admit | B．avoid | C．access | D．appreciate |
| A．touched | B．tasted | C．smelled | D．heard |
| A．creativity | B．mind | C．heart | D．imagination |
6 . Passenger Information
Carry-on Bag Rules
When travelling on China Southern planes, we ask our customers to follow our simple bag rules.
---Each passenger is allowed to bring one bag onto the plane.
…Weight limit：Each carry-on bag may weigh up to 10 kilos.
---Size limit：Each carry-on bag can be up to ll0cm long, 60cm high and 30cm wide.
---Additional bags and oversized/overweight bags may be allowed on the plane if there is enough room. There will be a fee for such bags (see the table below). Please note that if your bag breaks more than one rule then you must pay a fee for each rule broken.
Safety Rules
For the safety of our passengers, the following items must not be taken onto the plane:
---Bottles containing gas (e.g. cigarette lighter)
---Bottles containing any cream, oil or other liquid that are over l00ml.
Note:
If you have any liquid medicines over l00ml that you must use during your flight, please contact our customer service manager on 34533566 to make arrangements at least 24 hours before your departure. You will need to have a doctor's letter explaining why you need the medicine.
Bag Fees
| Rule | Fee | |
| Overweight* | Bags heavier than 10 kilos | ￥100 per kilo over limit |
| Oversized** | Bags larger than ll0cmX60cmX30cm | ￥250 per bag |
| Extra bags | ￥400 per extra bag |
*No bag over 15 kilos will be allowed on the plane.
**No bag over 150cm long or 80cm high may be taken on the plane. Passengers must put such bags in the plane's storage.
1. What is allowed to be taken onto the plane by a passenger?| A．A cigarette lighter. | B．A bag that is 16 kilos. |
| C．A ll0 ml bottle of cream. | D．A 50ml bag of liquid medicine. |
| A．After getting on the plane. | B．When arriving at the airport. |
| C．Two days before the flight. | D．At least 24 hours after the flight. |
| A．￥250. | B．￥450. |
| C．￥500. | D．￥550. |
7 . Ann's neighbor Tracy found a lost dog wandering around the local high school. She asked Ann if she could keep an eye on it. Ann said that she could
Tracy took photos of the
Four days later Ann was still
As soon as she opened the door, Riley
"If it hadn't come to get me, the
The next morning Tracy got a call. A man named Peterson
Peterson drove to Ann's house to
| A．accept | B．control | C．watch | D．train |
| A．dog | B．neighbor | C．school | D．house |
| A．books | B．toys | C．clothes | D．supplies |
| A．sons | B．brothers | C．daughters | D．sisters |
| A．escaping | B．recovering | C．resigning | D．dying |
| A．playing with | B．looking after | C．thinking of | D．talking about |
| A．call | B．visit | C．mean | D．mention |
| A．rested | B．supported | C．knocked | D．threw |
| A．angrily | B．aimlessly | C．madly | D．weakly |
| A．stared | B．reached | C．dashed | D．followed |
| A．believed | B．found | C．heard | D．remembered |
| A．wake | B．calm | C．carry | D．help |
| A．silent | B．crazy | C．sad | D．angry |
| A．reporter | B．doctor | C．writer | D．owner |
| A．retreat | B．greet | C．comfort | D．claim |
| A．appreciated | B．missed | C．recognized | D．raised |
| A．name | B．number | C．witness | D．paper |
| A．arguing | B．cheering | C．shouting | D．crying |
| A．saved | B．trusted | C．needed | D．understood |
| A．show off | B．give up | C．pick up | D．see off |
