1 . Humans have a way of understanding others’ goals, desires and beliefs, a crucial skill that allows us to anticipate people’s actions. Taking bread out of the toaster? You’ll need a plate. Sweeping up leaves? You’ll grab the green trash can. This skill, often referred to as “theory of mind”, comes easily to us as humans, but for robots it still has a high mountain to conquer.
In a recent study, computer science researchers made the robot “watch” the human complete the task using a camera placed directly above the assembly(组装)area, looking down. To detect the parts operated by the human, the system used AprilTags, similar to QR codes, attached to the parts. Then, the system used machine learning to learn a person’s preference based on their orders of actions in the task. “Based on how a person performs the small assembly, the robot predicts what that person will do in the larger assembly,” said Nemlekar. “For example, if the robot sees that a person likes to start the small assembly with the easiest part, it will predict that they will start with the easiest part in the large assembly as well.”
In the researchers’ user study, their system was able to predict the actions that humans will take with around 82% accuracy. “We hope that our research can make it easier for people to show robots what they prefer,” said Nemlekar. “By helping each person in their preferred way, robots can reduce their work, save time and even build trust with them.”This technology could also be useful in industrial settings where workers are tasked with assembling products in large numbers, saving time and reducing the risk of injury or accidents. Additionally, it could help persons with disabilities to more easily assemble products and maintain independence.
“Our goal is not to replace humans on the factory floor. I expect similar findings in other applications as well,” said Nikolaidis. “A robot that can quickly learn our preferences can help us prepare a meal, rearrange furniture or do house repairs, having a significant impact on our daily lives.”
1. What does the underlined part mean in Paragraph 1?| A．It’s refreshing. | B．It’s challenging. |
| C．It’s unachievable. | D．It’s ridiculous. |
| A．To predict human preferences. | B．To get the tasks finished easily. |
| C．To think on their own. | D．To avoid human errors. |
| A．They can replace humans. | B．They’ve been widely used. |
| C．They’ve improved their accuracy. | D．They can do good to the disabled. |
| A．In a lab guidebook. | B．In a computer textbook. |
| C．In a science newspaper. | D．In an academic paper. |
2 . When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese, eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note — “Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery” — and place it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically (魔术般) appear.
All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch (门廊) . Every so often my son’s friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.
1. Mr. Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer to __________.| A．show his magical power | B．pay for the delivery |
| C．satisfy his curiosity | D．please his mother |
| A．He wanted to have tea there. | B．He was a respectable person. |
| C．He was treated as a family member. | D．He was fully trusted by the family. |
| A．Nobody wants to be a milkman now. | B．It has been driven out of the market. |
| C．Its service is getting poor. | D．It is not allowed by law. |
| A．He missed the good old days. | B．He wanted to tell interesting stories. |
| C．He needed it for his milk bottles. | D．He planted flowers in it. |
3 . I believe that we can use social media for a lot of great things and it’s important especially for business owners like me. Ever since I started my calligraphy business two years ago, I’ve never spent a day without going on social media, especially a kind of social app on my phone, on which I promoted my products and services and got in contact with possible customers.
Later I found it got in the way of more important things. I hate to say I was hooked by it, but I was. Every time I turned on my phone, I would dive into it. For a long time, I had been I ignoring other parts of my life, like my family, my friends and my happiness. One day, I was thinking that a break should have happened long before to me.
Then I decided to remove the app off my phone for a month and only use that on my computer to keep track of my business. I wanted a clean break to reflect and plan for the future.
I had believed that if I spent less time on the platform, I would miss out much. Actually, I was so wrong. During this month off, I realized there was much to enjoy in life. I found more time to enjoy my hobbies and contacted my good friends that I had lost touch with, I was refilled with energy in all aspects of my life.
This one month off the app on the phone was healthy for me. If it were not for my business, I would like not to have it on my phone. I downloaded the app again on my phone, but only used it to post my own content. I didn’t intend to paint social media in a negative light, but now I just don’t think the way I was using it was healthy. It’s difficult to find balance, but I’m going to try to do it anyway. I’m going back, but it’s going to be different.
1. What did the author mainly do on social media?| A．He connected with his friends. | B．He worked on business activities. |
| C．He learned calligraphy on his own. | D．He shared advice about keeping fit. |
| A．Opposed to. | B．Injured by. | C．Addicted to. | D．Frightened by. |
| A．It was meaningless to share on social media. |
| B．There was lots of fun away from social media. |
| C．The social app contributed little to his business. |
| D．The social app in the computer was more practical. |
| A．One month away from social media upsets him. |
| B．He wants to seek more hobbies on social media. |
| C．He has confidence in balancing social media and life. |
| D．His friends ask him to communicate on social media. |
4 . A team of Chinese researchers have recently developed a new type of self-powered flexible and transparent(透明的) electronic skin to monitor human activities, shedding light on the future of wearable electronics. This new e-skin integrates a flexible transparent supercapacitor(超级电容器)as an energy storage device with a stretchable transparent strain sensor(应变传感器). Thanks to its mechanical softness, the integrated e-skin can be directly attached to various parts on the body.
As the largest organ of human body, skin is responsible for multiple major functions such as protection, perspiration (出汗) , regulation of body temperature, and sensory stimulation(感觉刺激) . It forms the basis of people’s physical interactions with the outside world.
The ideal e-skin should be highly sensitive, self-powered, and suitable for the human skin. “Inspired by sensory functions and performance of real human skin, we have made the new e-skin both flexible and transparent to serve multiple functions. After charging, it is capable of monitoring of people’s subtle physical signals and multi-scaled activities in real- time. It can measure a person’s pulse, tell when they are swallowing, and detect other body movements,” said Lan Wei, a professor at the School of Physical Science and Technology of Lanzhou University and the leader of the research team.
E-skin is the core of future wearable electronic devices. The new invention can be applied in smart health care, human-machine interaction, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. For example, it could help surgeons control surgical robots more precisely(精确地), enable people to “touch” over long distances, and create more immersive(沉浸式的) gaming experiences.
Going ahead, the research team will focus on strengthening the sensory capacity and power supply of the e-skin, making it even more like human skin, which will in turn make it more adaptive to various future applications.
1. What is the purpose of the new wearable e-skin?| A．To monitor human activities. |
| B．To regulate body temperature. |
| C．To slow down the aging of human skin. |
| D．To improve the flexibility of human skin. |
| A．It has large battery storage. |
| B．It can be attached to human skin directly. |
| C．It can meet diverse functional requirements. |
| D．It is highly sensitive to environmental change. |
| A．Its target users. | B．Its medical value. |
| C．Its working theory. | D．Its application potential. |
| A．Electronic Skin: A New Breakthrough |
| B．Electronic Skin: A Technology Reform |
| C．Electronic Skin: The Welfare to Human Health |
| D．Electronic Skin: The Model of Wearable Devices |
5 . The idea of low material desire, low consumption and refusing to work, marry and have children, concluded as a “lying down” lifestyle, recently struck a chord with many young Chinese who are eager to take pause to breathe in this fast-paced and highly-competitive society.
Many millennials (千禧一代) and generation Zs complained to the Global Times that burdens, including work stress, family disputes and financial strains, have pushed them “against the wall”. They said they hate the “involution(内卷),” joking that they would rather give up some of what they have than get trapped in an endless competition against peers.
“Instead of always following the ‘virtues’ of struggle, endure and sacrifice to bear the stresses, they prefer a temporary lying down as catharsis (宣泄) and adjustment,” said a scholar. “It is no wonder that some young people, under the growing pressures from child-raising to paying the mortgage (按揭) today, would try to live in a simple way and leave the worries behind.”
Interestingly, the majority of millennials and Gen Zs reached by the Global Times, who claim to be big fans of the lying down philosophy, acknowledged that they only accept a temporary lying down as a short rest. It is true that with the great improvement of living conditions, some Chinese youth have partially lost the spirit of hardship and are not willing to bear too much hard work. But in fact, lying down is not entirely comfortable. Young people who lie down always feel guilty about their constant loss of morale (士气) far beyond their reach.
“Young people on campus have both aspirations and confusion about their future, but most of us have rejected setting ourselves up in chains to waste opportunities and challenges,” a postgraduate student told the Global Times. “It’s no use running away. I have to ‘stand up’ and face the reality sooner or later.”
1. What does the underlined phrase in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Warned. | B．Punished. | C．Amused. | D．Touched. |
| A．Improvements in living conditions. |
| B．Growing pressure from family and social life. |
| C．Increasing material possessions from families. |
| D．Temporary adjustment to failure in competitions. |
| A．Understanding. | B．Intolerant. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．They never really drop their responsibilities. |
| B．They really enjoy the “lying down” lifestyle. |
| C．They find their dreams far beyond their reach. |
| D．They would rather escape than take challenges. |
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文流畅；
3. 开头已写好，不计入总词数。
Music is playing an important part in our study and daily life.
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In a word, music should make life better and help people become happier.
1. 写信目的：
2. 邀请原因：
3. 其他事项。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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8 . After realizing students at his primary school were going hungry, PE teacher Jason Watson got an inspiration.
“I grew up in Frazeysburg, a 1,300-person town,” said Jason. “It’s a community where people
During the 2020 COVID, Jason and his wife, school librarian Anne, bought a used
“Upon seeing our truck, they come
The family prepares all the meals themselves. “We love
“We’ve received lots of
In addition to helping children in need, the Watsons are excited they have found an activity that
| A．take control of | B．reach out to | C．watch out for | D．give way to |
| A．computer | B．truck | C．shelter | D．kitchen |
| A．ready-made | B．fat-free | C．peace-loving | D．home-cooked |
| A．order | B．sell | C．serve | D．update |
| A．wheels | B．floors | C．plates | D．tables |
| A．jogging | B．skating | C．running | D．jumping |
| A．noisier | B．better | C．bigger | D．more |
| A．performing | B．exercising | C．competing | D．cooking |
| A．extremely | B．secretly | C．formally | D．normally |
| A．invitations | B．donations | C．instructions | D．directions |
| A．inspired | B．allowed | C．taught | D．ordered |
| A．cheat | B．lead | C．invite | D．follow |
| A．wealth | B．advice | C．life | D．interest |
| A．connects | B．challenges | C．rescues | D．regards |
| A．shocking | B．confusing | C．amazing | D．annoying |
9 . Schoolchildren spend most of their time surrounded by their peers (同龄人). They spend a lot more time with classmates, teammates and fellow club members than with adults in their lives. Peer pressure can have a huge influence on the lives of children in grades two through twelve.
From birth through age six, the family shapes a child’s sense of identity (个性). Parents and brothers and sisters affect (影响) a child’s likes, dislikes, tastes in clothing, food and music and, perhaps most importantly, values. Once children enter school, they form connections to the larger group of their peers. This group brings new ideas and experiences. Peer pressure happens when a student’s actions are influenced by this group. The “pressure” happens when peers suggest or demand actions different from the child’s normal behavior and values.
Peer pressure leads to some disturbing negative (消极的) behavior in schoolchildren. In the USA, about 75% of high school students have tried alcohol (酒) offered by their friends in middle or high school. According to a survey, students felt pressured by their peers between 35 and 49% of the time. The power of peer pressure can result from a schoolchild’s growing desire to fit into a group.
Thankfully, peer pressure can also be positive (积极的). For example, wanting to join an athletic group of friends may force a student who has been sitting for a long time to try out for the soccer team. In a survey on peer pressure, 51% of teenagers felt that peer pressure was sometimes positive. One teenager responded, “Sometimes it can help you gain confidence.” Other examples of positive peer pressure include students encouraging a classmate to run for school president, or friends suggesting that that a talented peer try out for a talent show.
1. What leads to schoolchildren’s peer pressure?| A．The identity shaped by their family. | B．The connections with their classmates. |
| C．The childhood experiences with their friends. | D．The differences in their behavior and values. |
| A．To kill their boring time. | B．To fit into a peer group. |
| C．To help gain confidence | D．To improve social skills. |
| A．Peer pressure does more harm than good |
| B．Peer pressure is very good for schoolchildren’s growth. |
| C．Peer pressure is not necessarily bad for schoolchildren. |
| D．Peer pressure plays an important role in shaping a child’s values. |
| A．Why schoolchildren turn out the way they do | B．Ways to help schoolchildren deal with peer pressure |
| C．Peer pressure highly influences schoolchildren | D．How to improve schoolchildren’s behavior and values |
10 . My husband Robert and I had volunteered to help build an irrigation (灌溉) system for bananas in Zambia. The Heart of Africa Mission is run by local Zambians, with a focus on community development. We were there to share our agricultural (农业的) experience and knowledge with the African farmers.
We left snow-covered Alberta, Canada in January. We spent the next four weeks working side by side with the local Zambians in a banana plantation (种植园). The banana plantation would help make the Heart of Africa Mission self-supporting. It would also teach banana farming to the students there. Students would go on to teach others. It has done that and more. Through the jobs created, several families now have food, education for their children, and enough housing. The plantation is producing well and is a source of great pride for all who work there.
My husband worked hard at building the irrigation system. But the story he tells most often is of the young man who stopped us on one of our walks somewhere. He pointed to his bike, and laughing widely, told Robert, “Look, look, it still works.” Robert had repaired it for him. A bike in Zambia is like a truck in North America—necessary transportation for people and produce. Robert’s small effort made a big difference in this man’s life.
“We sure appreciate (感激) your sacrifice (牺牲),” our organizer often says. For us it was never a sacrifice, only an honor to have the chance to work in a place so far from our own, to be able to exchange ideas and thoughts. All this happened while living in a beautiful sunny country in the green of the rainy season, while at home in Alberta, the snow would cover the landscape (风景) for months. No, the volunteer work was never a sacrifice. It was only an honor.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?| A．She likes to take adventures. | B．She is probably an expert in agriculture. |
| C．She started the Heart of Africa Mission. | D．She used to live in Africa for a long time. |
| A．Costly. | B．Tiring. | C．Challenging. | D．Fruitful. |
| A．To ask for help. | B．To express his thanks. |
| C．To show his cycling skills. | D．To tell them about his work. |
| A．It enabled her to work harder. | B．It brought her public recognition. |
| C．It made her appreciate her life more. | D．It allowed her to experience different things. |
