1 . In the early part of his life, Seiichi Sano was a busy business owner. Later in life, he took on other difficult activities. At the age of 80, he climbed Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. Soon after, he started surfing.
Sano turned 90 this year. After being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest male to surf, he’s considering trying other activities. “Maybe I’ll try bouldering,” he said, suggesting he might do it first in a gym. “Outside it might be a bit dangerous.”
But maybe he will just stick with what he knows. “I think it would be interesting to surf until I’m 100,” Sano said. “I think I can take better care of myself when I have goals like this. Even now, I take better care of myself than I did before.”
Sano said he got the idea to try surfing from a worker at his local bank. The man’s skin was always dark but healthy. He did not look like a usual banker. His secret, he said, was surfing. So Sano found a teacher.
“I don’t consider myself an old man,” he said in his wet suit, board standing next to him. “I have never thought of myself as an old persona. I always feel that I can still move forward. I can still do it. I can still enjoy it.”
Sano joined hundreds of other surfers recently at Enoshima. All the surfers were younger, of course. Several young students who also worked with Sano’s surf teacher, 46-year-old Kazuto Shimizu, talked about Sano.
“To be honest, I was surprised by his age,” said Shimizu. “I was most worried that he would get injured. I did not know how fit he was, physically.”
Sano still runs a business that supplies wood to building companies. He works 9-to-5 at the job. Surfing reduces tension for him.
1. What made Sano get a Guinness World Record for surfing?A.His age. | B.His wonderful skill. | C.His fast speed. | D.His competition result. |
A.The idea of enriching his life. | B.The decision to improve his health. |
C.His dream of becoming world-famous. | D.The unusual appearance of a bank worker. |
A.Creative. | B.Adventurous. | C.Careful. | D.Generous. |
A.He has difficulty training Sano. | B.He prefers to teach young people. |
C.He was concerned about Sano’s health. | D.He praised Sano for his love for work. |
2 . I went to get a coffee this morning. A lovely lady came up to me and said, “You’re so pretty and I love your dress.” It made me feel
Then I dropped my car off for repair, and the girl
I then got an Uber back with a middle-aged Asian man, and on the way, we
Later today, I got an Uber back to get my
I left her a huge tip, too, just as a reminder that sometimes a simple
A.worried | B.peaceful | C.nice | D.strange |
A.comforting | B.serving | C.cheering | D.admiring |
A.beautifully | B.simply | C.thickly | D.completely |
A.calmed down | B.called on | C.watched over | D.picked up |
A.speak | B.apologize | C.refer | D.turn |
A.walked | B.sent | C.forced | D.drove |
A.healthy | B.energetic | C.grateful | D.safe |
A.smile | B.tip | C.message | D.card |
A.goodbye | B.yes | C.thanks | D.sorry |
A.car | B.groceries | C.bicycle | D.awards |
A.familiar | B.common | C.lovely | D.expensive |
A.checked | B.reached | C.rooted | D.brought |
A.gift | B.prize | C.reminder | D.wonder |
A.honor | B.encouragement | C.chat | D.praise |
A.teach | B.lend | C.say | D.introduce |
3 . More than 170,000 people in California are unhoused. Even as the state has poured resources into fighting against the problem, the number of people without homes has ticked upward in recent years. On the surface, the state has one key advantage for people without a reliable roof over their heads: relatively consistent and livable weather. So one of my first thoughts when I heard news of a horricane attacking Los Angeles was just “What will happen to the city’s homeless population?”
City agencies quickly took action. As it became clear that the Los Angeles region could experience an extreme downpour and subsequent flooding, outreach teams fanned out across the river bank and dam areas across the city that have become home to a significant unhoused population, offering support to move them into shelters and motels (汽车旅馆).
Despite that, it’s obvious that the effects of climate change will hit the most vulnerable (脆弱的) hardest. We see this globally as extreme weather events hit countries that have contributed the least to the problem.
The most notable connection between climate change and the US housing crisis is the threat extreme weather poses to unhoused people. More unhoused people are affected as climate change drives increasingly unpredictable weather. People without homes know how to respond to expected seasonal events. But events like a near-hurricane in Los Angeles or a wildfire in ‘Maui can catch populations with limited access to information off guard.
Another link worth considering is the way in which climate change creates more homelessness and further stresses on housing systems. Hurricane Katrina, for example, displaced 800, 000 people. Four years later, 12,000 people remained without shelter.
Housing has been — and will continue to be — a key issue in Maui too as it recovers from the wildfire that killed more than 100 people. Maui has already had a housing crisis, the result of a high cost of living driven in large part by the tourism industry. And, now, many more are left looking for places to stay. Ashley Kelly, the chief operating officer at Hawaii’s Family Life Center, said: “Finding housing for any new clients is just not possible right now.”
1. What contributes to the increase of the unhoused population in California?A.Its mild weather. |
B.Its inclusive local culture. |
C.Its limited basic facilities. |
D.Its relaxed state policies. |
A.They built dams to prevent flooding. |
B.They moved homeless people to safe places. |
C.They sought low-cost housing from city agencies. |
D.They surrounded the river bank to keep people away. |
A.Mysterious. | B.Exceptional. | C.Changeable. | D.Difficult. |
A.Ways of Americans relocating disaster-affected populations. |
B.The significance of timely weather updates for the homeless. |
C.The link between climate change and the housing crisis in the US. |
D.Approaches of homeless Americans to dealing with natural disasters. |
4 . Science fiction has long entertained the idea of artificial intelligence becoming conscious (有意识的). Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but the pace of AI evolution (发展) has got them considering: how would we know if they were?
To answer this, a group of 19 neuroscientists (神经系统科学家), philosophers and computer scientists have come up with a checklist of standards that, if met, would indicate whether a system has a high chance of being conscious. The authors made the effort because “it seemed like there was a real lack of detailed, thoughtful discussion of AI consciousness,” says co-author Robert Long, a philosopher at the Center for AI Safety.
The team says that a failure to identify whether an AI system has become conscious has important moral implications. If something has been labelled “conscious”, according to co-author Megan Peters, a neuroscientist at the University of California, “that changes a lot about how we as human beings feel that entity (独立存在的个体) should be treated”. Long adds that, as far as he can tell, not enough effort has been made by the companies building advanced AI systems to evaluate the models for consciousness and make plans for what to do if that happens.
One of the challenges in studying consciousness in AI is defining what it means to be conscious. Peters says that for the report, the researchers focused on “phenomenal consciousness”.
Many neuroscience-based theories describe the biological basis of consciousness. But there is no agreement on which is the right one. To create their framework, the authors therefore used a range of these theories. The idea is that if an AI system functions in a way that matches aspects of many of these theories, then there is a greater likelihood that it is conscious.
They argue that this is a better approach to assessing consciousness than simply putting a system through a behavioural test — say, asking ChatGPT whether it is conscious, or challenging it and seeing how it responds. That’s because AI systems have become remarkably good at mimicking (模仿) humans.
1. What does Robert Long say about present research on AI consciousness?A.It is far from enough. |
B.It is progressing rapidly. |
C.It has shown promising insights into it. |
D.It has learnt a lot from previous research. |
A.Their final applications. |
B.How humans treat them. |
C.Their moral responsibilities. |
D.How humans make future; plans. |
A.Providing a definition of it. |
B.Uncovering the reason behind it. |
C.Measuring AI’s ability to mimic humans. |
D.Comparing AI consciousness and human consciousness. |
A.By observing its responses to digital signals and online questions. |
B.By checking its understanding of some neuroscience-based theories. |
C.By comparing its functional patterns with neuroscience-based theories. |
D.By conducting experiments and tests to measure its level of self-awareness. |
5 . London Theatre Shows
Alice In WonderlandEach ticket to the show includes free entry to Kew Gardens., Alice in Wonderland is playing at the Kew Gardens from 22 July to 28 August 2023.
Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes with no interval (幕间休息)
Performance days
Matinees (日场): Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Important information: Children under 2 years old go free.
Back To The Future: The MusicalIt is based on the iconic Back ta the Future films. Back to the Future: The Musical tickets at the Adelphi Theatre, London are available to book for performances up to 11 February 2024.
Age restrictions: Suitable for general audience aged 6+. Children under 3 will not be admitted.
Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes (including interval)
Performance days
Evenings; Monday, Wednesday. Thursday. Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Matinees: Thursday, Saturday, Sunday.
Blippi: The Wonderful World TourThis show sees Blippi in the ultimate curiosity adventure. Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi as he discovers what makes different cities unique and special. Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour runs at Rose Theatre, Kingston from 29 August to 9 September 2023.
Age restrictions: Recommended for ages 2+.
Running time: 1 hour (no interval)
Performance days
Matinees: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Dinosaur World LiveJoin our brave explorers across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of remarkably life-like dinosaurs. Dinosaur World Live runs from 11 August to 3 September 2023 at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London.
Age restrictions: 3+
Running time: 50 mins + a 15-minute post show
Performance days
Matinees: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
1. What do we know about Back to the Future: The Musical?A.It has no performances on Tuesdays, |
B.Booking starts on 11 February 2024. |
C.Children under 3 years old can go free. |
D.It lasts 2 hours 40 minutes without intervals. |
A.Kew Gardens. |
B.Adelphi Theatre. |
C.Rose Theatre, Kingston. |
D.Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. |
A.Alice In Wonderland |
B.Dinosaur World Live |
C.Back To The Future: The Musical |
D.Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour |
6 . Traveling is a great way to experience new cultures and landscapes, learn about different ways of life, and simply have an adventure. It can also help you open your mind to new ideas and perspectives.
One book that perfectly captures (描述) the spirit of travel is The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande.
Her book has a great impact on readers.
One of the greatest benefits of traveling to places inspired by books for students is the opportunity to explore and learn about many different cultures. Immersing (使沉浸) yourself in unfamiliar surroundings can help open your eyes to different ways of life.
Being able to communicate effectively with those from different backgrounds is essential for any student, especially in today’s international society.
Lastly, by traveling to places inspired by books, students will gain a deeper understanding of the works that inspired them to take the journey in the first place.
A.Meeting new people can be invaluable. |
B.That’s why there are so many books about traveling. |
C.Literary works often include ideas beyond a reader’s imagination. |
D.It can even help you gain insight into why people live differently from you. |
E.It’s an inspiring story that will stay with them long after they finish the last page. |
F.Traveling abroad helps students practice using their language skills in real-life situations. |
G.In this book, Grande describes her journey from Mexico to America and how it shaped her life. |
7 . According to Americans for the Arts, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults say that the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences.” Still, only 30 percent attended a concert of any type in 2017; 23 percent visited an art museum; six percent attended a literary event. Fewer than half actively created art of any kind.
What has caused this phenomenon is that we do not have time for art — we are weighed down by our day-to-day responsibilities. Maybe you like to play a little background music while you work but most of us rarely, if ever, went to see a live performance, let alone visited a gallery. And reading poetry? Perhaps not since high school.
Too often, we let the realities of life get in the way of the arts, which can feel insignificant by comparison. But this is a mistake. The arts might be the single most in-depth experience you will ever be given to explore the nature and meaning of life. And if you make time to consume and produce art, you will find your life become fuller and happier.
Some philosophers address the problem of life consumed by work and material pursuits. They argue that art provides relief from this routine, expanding our perspective and bringing us closer to true reality.
Think of a time when you heard a piece of music and wanted to cry. Or recall your fast heartbeats as you stared at a delicate lifelike sculpture. Chances are that it probably stimulated (刺激) a sudden awakening, much like the shock from a lungful of pure oxygen after breathing in smoggy air.
If you are among those who feel that art is “pure pleasure to experience and participate in,” you might see it the same way you see eating out, or skydiving: as a luxury (奢侈品) item in your limited budgets of time and money. As such, it probably gets the same sort of treatment as any minor hobby. Don’t make this error. Treat art more like exercise or sleep: a necessity for a life full of deep satisfaction.
1. What does paragraph 1 focus on?A.The opinion of U.S. adults about art. |
B.The types of art that U.S. adults engage with. |
C.The mismatch between value and behaviour as to art. |
D.The connection between everyday experiences and art. |
A.Art reveals the nature of life. | B.Art gives way to material pursuits. |
C.Life without art is meaningless. | D.Background music is a kind of art. |
A.Art awakes people’s talents. | B.Art improves physical health. |
C.Art brings us closer to nature. | D.Art makes life fuller and happier. |
A.Art: A Habit, Not a Luxury | B.Art: A Bridge, Not a Barrier |
C.Art: A Decoration, Not a Reality | D.Art: A Pleasure, Not a Burden |
8 . Harland “Colonel” Sanders was born in 1890. He was left to be the only
By the age of 7, he had started
At the age of 40, he had
At the age of 60, Colonel Sanders decided to
He started traveling to different restaurants, cooking his fried chicken at the spot for restaurant owners. If the owners liked the chicken, they would be sold the
A.man | B.son | C.orphan | D.child |
A.selling | B.learning | C.cooking | D.experimenting |
A.mastered | B.adjusted | C.adopted | D.bought |
A.expand | B.service | C.require | D.generate |
A.cheated | B.perceived | C.inquired | D.approached |
A.educated | B.commanded | C.convinced | D.promised |
A.appealed to | B.ended up | C.subscribed to | D.committed to |
A.escape | B.advance | C.retire | D.challenge |
A.living off | B.leaving out | C.settling down | D.carrying on |
A.store | B.label | C.concept | D.recipe |
A.detected | B.defeated | C.assessed | D.rejected |
A.Potentially | B.Ultimately | C.Substantially | D.Entirely |
A.fortune | B.unique | C.diverse | D.identical |
A.linked | B.praised | C.ranked | D.posed |
A.generous | B.stubborn | C.reserved | D.recognizable |
9 . Welcome to American United Travel Company. We’ll help you spend a perfect holiday. For over 6 years, we have been organizing value for money summer holidays, whether it’s a late holiday deal or your main summer holiday. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a luxury 5-star holiday, or you just want to relax and soak up the sun, we’ve got access to the very best flight and hotel deals throughout the world. We are proud to offer you various services unlike other tour companies where we offer one-stop shop for complete tourism.
Our Services Include
Tours. Meet & Assist Services. Airport Transfer. MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conferences, Exhibitions) private Jets. Ground handling (24 hours) VIP services on arrival & departure. Adventure Tour.
Means of Transportation Reservations
We operate for all means of transportation available in the country, starting with buses for groups to car rental to individuals.
Guidance
We have the most qualified guides who speak French, English, German, Italian, and Spanish. We bank on their communication skills as well as their knowledge in various fields.
Fancy Dinners
We prepare outdoor dinners in particular places such as castles, beaches, old and traditional houses, etc. Usually, these dinners are arranged according to the clients’ choices.
Luggage Concierge
Don’t worry about luggage size and weight when travelling. Give your bags to Luggage Concierge in advance and they will be waiting for you at your destination when you arrive.
Call one of our experienced travel consultants on 18884700610 to secure one of these fantastic deals.
1. What is special about United Travel company?A.It provides one-stop complete tourism. | B.It supplies the best flight and hotels. |
C.It offers transfer service. | D.Its guides speak various languages. |
A.Send it to your destination directly. | B.Carry it by yourself. |
C.Keep it as light as possible. | D.Hand it to Luggage Concierge. |
A.To diversify the economy. | B.To attract tourists. |
C.To conserve the environment. | D.To entertain readers. |
10 . Strings of letters have recently been flooding the Chinese Internet. Netizens have embraced the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personality test, using its distinctive combinations of letters to define and classify themselves and others, sparking the formation of active online communities. Initially designed as a self-assessment tool to outline personality types and preferences, the MBTI has found enormous popularity in China.
The MBTI categorizes individuals using four pairs of characteristics: introversion (I) (内向) or extroversion (E) (外向), sensing (S) or intuition (N), thinking (T) or feeling (F), and judging (J) or perceiving (P). This leads to distinct four-letter combinations, like “ISTJ” or “INFP.” The values “E” and “I” have especially attracted public interest. Those who exhibit extroversion (E) characteristics are now humorously described as outgoing, talkative, wild, and socially skilled. They are often playfully called “social gangsters” due to their strong social skills. In contrast, those with introversion (I) are shown as quiet, reserved, reflective, and socially anxious.
Among the playful teasing, these eight seemingly simple letters have promoted deeper self-awareness and even developed a sense of friendship on social media platforms. Individuals discover their strengths and humorously acknowledge their odd behavior. This newfound self-awareness not only aids in understanding their fundamental values but also offers a way to deal with the common unease that bothers today’s youth. Many find comfort in thinking, “My ongoing anxiety, over-sensitivity, and self-doubt come from being an INFP. Such characteristics are typical for this personality type; thus, I’m perfectly normal.”
Netizens often humorously note: “In everyday life, during social events, I switch between introversion and extroversion. At work, I initially act extroverted but gradually become more introverted. When I see someone I like, I’m extroverted in my head but in reality, I’m all introverted. Haidilao Hotpot restaurants, known for their fancy birthday celebrations, sometimes make customers feel awkward. Their typical birthday song goes, “Say goodbye to all worries, and embrace all joys.” It’s a show meant for the extra-social. So, if an extrovert is invited to such a celebration, they might humorously exclaim, “I can’t take it! I’ve become introverted in the face of even more extroverted individuals.”
1. What is the original function of the MBTI personality test?A.To form active online communities. | B.To scientifically classify netizen behaviors. |
C.To make a definition and classification of people. | D.To evaluate the types of character and preferences. |
A.A timid person. | B.A shy person. | C.A daring person. | D.A humble person. |
A.attracted public interest humorously | B.recognize and accept personal characters |
C.comfort the people with personality shortages | D.know yourself better and correct odd behavior |
A.To explain why an extrovert is often invited to their celebration. |
B.To show people’s personalities can change on different occasions. |
C.To indicate the birthday songs could make customers embarrassed. |
D.To stress the popularity of birthday parties in Haidilao Hotpot restaurants. |