1 . Cities are difficult to navigate (导航) at the best of times, but for people with disabilities they can be like courses with hurdles and bring inconvenience to disabled people.

A UK national travel survey found that adults with mobility difficulties took 39% fewer trips than those with no disability in 2017. Yet that could change as devices and cities grow smarter. Assistive tech is playing a big role in the transformation. The global value of the industry is expected to increase from $14 billion in 2015 to $30.8 billion in 2024, according to Zion Market Research.

One of the things that could transform lives is a smart walking stick designed by engineers from Young Guru Academy (YGA) in Turkey. The WeWalk stick has a sensor that detects hurdles above chest level and uses vibrations (振动) to warn the user. It can be paired with a smartphone to help navigation, and is connected with a voice assistant and Google Maps.

Ceylan, who has been blind since birth, says that connecting the stick to the Internet of Things and smart city solutions makes it user-friendly. “As a blind person, when I am at the Metro station I don’t know which is my exit ... I don’t know which bus is approaching ... which stores are around me. That kind of information can be provided with the WeWalk,” he says.

“The smart walking stick is really an exciting initiative that will make a huge difference to some people,” says Anna Lawson, the director of the Center for Disability Studies at Leeds University in the United Kingdom. “But they are very expensive ... they’re not going to be available to the vast majority of disabled people,” she added.

Bryan Matthews, a lecturer at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, shares the concerns about cost. He says there should also be a focus on inclusive design, and anything that helps people navigate their environment is positive.

1. What does “that” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．The survey that compared adults’ mobility.

B．The smart industry that is booming.

C．The fact that the disabled traveled less.

D．The role that the assistive tech plays.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The working principles of the WeWalk stick.

B．The introduction of the WeWalk stick inventors.

C．The transformation caused by the WeWalk stick.

D．The benefits brought about by the WeWalk stick.

3. What’s the purpose of quoting Ceylan?

A．To show the value of smart tech.

B．To urge more attention to the blind.

C．To increase the potential market share.

D．To encourage tech research and development.

4. What is the disadvantage of the WeWalk stick?

A．Confusing instructions.	B．Poor navigation.
C．Inclusive designs.	D．High prices.

3 . 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。

Confucius was born into a middle class family in Lu State, an area with the modern city of Qufu, in China’s Shandong Province. Now, he     1     (remember) for his teachings, which, along with the works of his students，formed the rule of Confucianism (儒学) many     2     (year) after his passing away.

Confucius also lived     3     active political life. From his job as Minister of Crime, he took part in a campaign (运动) to distance Lu from the rule of the state instead of     4     (work) for the central government. However, the plan failed. After a short period of being sent to live in another country, Confucius could finally return to Lu state     5     (spend) the rest of his life as a teacher of philosophy.

Even up to the time of Confucius’s     6     (die), his teachings were not     7     (wide) accepted in China, and most of     8     (they) were lost when the emperor Qin ordered the burning of Confucius’s books.

Yet, his philosophical (哲学的) ideas survived during the later Han Dynasty. Emperor Han Wudi,    9     was inspired by the social and political wisdom of Confucius, accepted Confucianism and applied his systems of morality everywhere from classrooms     10     law courts. The teachings of Confucius still spread far across China and the Far East.

4 . Diplomacy (外交) is an art. It requires not only strategy, but also other aspects, including intuition, persuasion, and even tricks, human skills that have long been unreachable to even the most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) approaches. Now, an AI algorithm (算法) from a high-tech company has shown it can beat many humans in a game of diplomacy, which required both strategic planning and negotiations with other players. The work, researchers said, could point the way toward virtual exercise coaches and conflict mediators (调解员) .

AI has already beaten humans in some games of strategy. It is also proving powerful at natural-language processing, in which it can generate humanlike text and carry on conversations. In the game of diplomacy, seven players vied for control of Europe. On each turn, players issued orders regarding the movement of army and naval units, following discussion with other players, whom they could attack or support.

There are two technical innovations noted by Jonathan Gratch, a computer scientist at the University of Southern California who studies negotiation agents. First, the Al agent’s com-munication is grounded in multistep planning. Second. the Al agent keeps its remarks and game play within the range of human common practice.

To test its skill, the researchers had the Al agent play 40 online games against humans. It placed in the top 10% of players who’d played at least two games. “In a game that involves language and negotiation, that agents can reach human equal level is very exciting,” said Yu, a computer scientist at Columbia University.

According to Brown, a computer scientist at the company who co-authored the paper, the work could lead to practical applications in fields that now require a human touch. One specific example is that virtual personal assistants might help consumers negotiate for better prices on plane tickets. Gratch and Yu both see opportunities for agents that persuade people to make healthy choices or open up during therapy.

1. Who is likely to benefit from the research work?

A．A famous cyber athlete.	B．A professor of civil law.
C．A professional accountant.	D．A virtual fitness instructor.

2. What does the underlined word “vied” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Accounted.

B．Apologized.

C．Searched.

D．Competed.

3. Why does the author mention AI agent?

A．To understand the thought of AI.	B．To illustrate the advantages of AI.
C．To describe the importance of AI.	D．To introduce the strategy of AI.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Diplomacy, a Popular Game	B．AI Learns the Art of Diplomacy
C．Al Will Become a Perfect Diplomat	D．An Excellent Game Player

5 . Andrew Powell was pulling envelopes from the large mailbox outside his contemporary house when he noticed something ______: A tiny doll couple were sitting on a love seat inside the mailbox. A small note was attached.

“We’ve decided to live here,” the ______ read. It was signed from Mary and Shelley. Andrew initially figured that somebody must have left them there ______ . So he asked the neighbors whether anybody had left ______ in his mailbox, and everyone said no. Soon, Andrew and his wife discovered that the small couple had ______ a tea table, a pretty carpet and a pillow.

Over the next few months, additional items mysteriously ______: a bed, a painting and a wood-burning stove, to name a few. For Christmas 2022, a decorated tree was left with tiny presents. But the gifts were taken back right after Christmas ______ Andrew could open the boxes to see if anything was inside.

More than a year later, Mary and Shelley are still living rent-free in the mailbox, to the delight of the neighbors who now ______ Andrew’s updates on the village’s website to check the ______. Andrew first posted about the tiny dolls on Aug. 21, 2022, hoping his fellow villagers might help solve the ______.

“It’s just somebody out there who is having some fun, giving us all a little community ______. But whoever is doing this is obviously very ______ and clever,” says Andrew’s next-door neighbor.

Andrew says he now doesn’t want to know who is ______ for the mail-box affair because he’s hoping it will continue. “Also, people in the neighborhood are ______ it and some ask if I’ve thought about installing an outdoor ______ , but personally, I like the mystery of it.”

1.

A．alive

B．unusual

C．important

D．unique

2.

A．notice

B．board

C．mail

D．message

3.

A．by mistake

B．by chance

C．on purpose

D．on sale

4.

A．gifts

B．cards

C．dolls

D．posts

5.

A．displayed

B．acquired

C．designed

D．decorated

6.

A．came back

B．wandered off

C．showed up

D．broke in

7.

A．before

B．since

C．unless

D．when

8.

A．follow

B．comment

C．download

D．appreciate

9.

A．improvement

B．possibility

C．truth

D．progress

10.

A．difficulty

B．conflict

C．case

D．mystery

11.

A．care

B．humor

C．blessing

D．support

12.

A．artistic

B．academic

C．sympathetic

D．realistic

13.

A．suitable

B．eager

C．responsible

D．ambitious

14.

A．describing

B．imitating

C．celebrating

D．enjoying

15.

A．light

B．camera

C．tent

D．bench

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空格处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

When you go to restaurants in different parts of the world, it’s important to know the right and wrong things    1    (do). For example, in some parts of the world, it’s OK to make a lot of noise in a restaurant. In fact, if in a restaurant there isn’t    2    (noise) and lively, you may think there’s something wrong with it. In some other parts of the world, however, restaurants are quiet places. If a table is too loud, other people in the restaurant might    3    (strong) complain to the owner of the restaurant.

How to pay the bill is also different from country    4    country. In some countries one person usually    5    (pay) for everybody. In other countries,    6    friends eat together, they usually share the bill. This    7    (call) “going Dutch”. Also, they usually leave a tip for the waiter. They tip between 15% and 20% of the bill, depending on    8    good the service is.

Different countries have different    9    (custom). When you travel to another country please follow what    10    (it) people do.

7 . How to prepare for a thrilling hike? Hiking needs mental and physical preparation weeks before the material day. If you’re a fan of hiking mountains. Here is a guide to help you.

Train hard and train in time

You need to train your body at least three months before the challenge.     1     You can start with baby steps and gradually take more demanding exercises and distance. You can often carry your hiking stick to promote stability. Keep track of your progress to help you achieve your goal.

Choose your clothes carefully

    2     . Wear light absorbent pants to reduce friction and promote absorption of sweat. Long pants keep you safe from stinging weeds, insects and tough weather.

    3    

You must consider various factors before purchasing the most appropriate hiking shoes. First, mind the terrain (地形) of the hiking ground. A mild terrain will do fine with light shoes. On the other hand. A tough, hard and mountainous terrain require hardy hots to help navigate the rocky grounds.

Adequately pack your bag

Your bag is your lifeline when hiking. Water is the most essential itch when hiking. The body performs best when you hydrate frequently throughout the challenge. Carry adequate clean water and sip often.     4     These are primary tools to help you find your way, water points, emergency towers, and other places. Hope for the lest but always prepare for ever-agencies. Thus, ensure you have a flash light, a lighter and a whistle.

Hiking is a refreshing way of keeping fit, having fun and building resilience.     5    

A．Choose appropriate footwear

B．Search for the route you will he hiking

C．Carry a compass, a map and a gas with you

D．Adequate water can help you be in good con lit ion

E．create a regular schedule and be disciplined to follow it

F．Wear appropriate clothes that allow your free movement

G．Adequate planning will help have a fantastic experience of it

8 . Recycling is a great way of doing your bit for the environment and helping to protect the earth’s precious resources. However, a new study has revealed that our desire to be sustainable maybe doing more harm than good. According to waste company Biffa, this is because of “wish-cycling” — assuming that items such as disposable coffee cup sand pizza boxes will be recycled if put in the recycling bin. In fact, pollution from those items or other non-recyclables can result in recyclable items that have been put in the correct bin going to landfill. David Heaton, a business director at Biffa, said: “Pollution happens when items are disposed of in the wrong bins or haven’t been cleaned before being recycled.”

Experts at Biffa analyzed the amounts of non-target and non-recyclable materials that entered UK material recycling facilities between 2016 and 2020. It was found that, in 2016, the average pollution rate of recycling waste was 13.4 percent, rising over four years to 17 percent by the end of 2020. This shows that, even as people are becoming more eco-conscious, wish-cycling is increasing both in households and businesses.

The Biffa experts say that one of the best ways to prevent pollution of recycling is to clean recyclable waste before putting it in the bin. They suggest cutting off the top of old pizza boxes and only recycling that part to avoid pollution from the grease (油脂). Check the on-packaging recycling label to check it can actually be recycled When it comes to plastics, Biffa recommends checking the resin code, the number in the plastic triangle, to know whether it should go in the recycling bin. In general, resin codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are recyclable, while 3, 6 and 7 are not. Larger items, like electronics, furniture and batteries, can also be recycled but often can not go in household recycling bins as they need specialist separating. These will need to be taken to recycling centers or sustainable waste management companies.

“It’s vital as a nation that we get better at effective ‘pre-cycling’— sorting waste correctly before collection to reduce pollution rates,” added Mr. Heaton.

1. What’s the truth of “wish-cycling” according to the first paragraph?

A．The desire to lead a sustainable life.

B．The good intention to help recycling.

C．The habit of throwing items that end up in landfills.

D．The practice of recycling items that can not be recycled.

2. What has experts at Biffa concluded after their analysis?

A．People are becoming more eco-conscious.

B．Wish-cycling is on the rise in recent years.

C．Pollution happens less frequently in recycling facilities.

D．People are used to cleaning recyclable waste before putting it in the bin.

3. Which of the following is a proper way of recycling?

A．Dispose of electronics together with household waste.

B．Skip the step of checking the on-packaging recycling label.

C．Check the resin code of plastics to see whether it is recyclable or not.

D．Cutoff the top of old pizza box and throw the rest to the recycling bin.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Recycling: a Big Project	B．Wish-cycling: a New Trend
C．Wish-cycling: a Growing Concern	D．Pre-cycling: an Effective Method

10 . You start by running around the school track three times to warm up. This is followed by exercises or long jump for the girls and football or basketball for the boys. That is an average 45 -minute PE class— but do you really enjoy it?

For students at the Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, sports classes have experienced a welcome change. Senior 2 students now learn the traditional Chinese martial art of sword-fighting (中国剑术), making PE the most popular lesson on the timetable. “The classes used to be boring as we just did the same things again and again,” said Xiao Tong. “But now PE classes are such fun. Sword-fighting is so cool.” His classmate Wei Jie agrees. “As well as being fun, we learn about traditional Chinese culture,” she said. The usual morning exercises performed to music on the school playground have been replaced by kicking and punching practice (搏击操) to a pop music by Zheng Xiuwen. “We didn't pay much attention when we heard the old music,” Xiao explained, “But when Zheng's music is played, we get excited.” Mao Min, the PE teacher who introduced the changes, is pleased that the students now enjoy sports lessons more. “The classes encourage healthy lifestyles and I am always looking for creative ways to keep the students active,” he said. Schools offer activities according to what sports facilities (设备) they have. For example, students at the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University can choose to learn swimming, taekwondo (跆拳道) or volleyball. “I take my volleyball very seriously so I keep fit by playing it,” said Senior 2 student Zhang Zheng. “Students only try hard in sports that interest them.”

1. Why was Xiao Tong not interested in PE classes in the past?

A．Because he didn't do well in sports.

B．Because he disliked the same activities.

C．Because he thought the classes too long-

D．Because he was tired of the PE teacher.

2. Which sport is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Sword-fighting.

B．Volleyball.

C．Skating.

D．Punching practice.

3. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Sword-fighting appears in PE classes.

B．Students try hard in all sports at school.

C．Schools offer necessary sports facilities.

D．PE classes are welcoming new changes.

4. What is the attitude of the students towards new PE classes?

A．Supportive.

B．Negative.

C．Uncaring.

D．Doubtful.