1 . London Theatre Shows
Alice In Wonderland
Each 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 Musical
It 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 Tour
This 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 Live
Join 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 |
2 . 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. |
3 . 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. |
4 . 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. |
5 . Fishing trips to Canada are a tradition for Jeffrey Hardy and his three friends from America. This summer in 2023, the forest air polluted with wildfire smoke forced the men to give up their mid-June fishing plan. Canada’s wildfire season put its tourism industry at a crucial time.
Except some days of poor air quality, major Canadian cities remain unaffected by wildfires. The fires are in the country’s northern areas that have drawn travelers interested in outdoor experiences in years past.
In a recent report by Destination Canada, a marketing organization, half of the total spent by international visitors is in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. But other Canadian destinations attractive to visitors have been affected by the wildfires.
In preparation for increasing visitor sizes and ongoing wildfires, some businesses are thinking about changing their operations, which see outdoor recreation (娱乐) as a tourism opportunity. A nonprofit travel agency is considering creating a questionnaire (调查问卷) for customers to show when they would cancel a booking because of road closes from the wildfires, poor air quality and a lack of visibility.
Tourism in British Columbia contributes greatly to its economy. The province has various recreational offerings, from the major ski destinations to hiking along the coast. Blackcomb, a helicopter tour company, has canceled its sightseeing offerings, using most of its helicopters on the firefighting effort until at least early August. “It’s the question of flying our customers around on sightseeing tours or putting out fire s within 10 kilometers of our bases and the communities that we live in,” said Jordy Norris, the company’s tourism director. “We made it clear to both our staff and our customers that we have a duty to protect the backyard.”
Darrin Rigo, a photographer, recently saw a photo of a beautiful waterfall engulfed in fire on a media page. “I’m sure that’s not going to last long, and everything will turn to normal.” he said.
1. Which part of Canada is most affected by the wildfire?| A．Canada’s central part. | B．The northern areas. |
| C．Major Canadian cities. | D．Places with few visitors. |
| A．He is sad about his company’s loss from the fire. |
| B．He is confident about the use of the questionnaire. |
| C．He is glad to join in the fight against the wildfire. |
| D．He is stressed about the fire’s effect on his company. |
| A．Covered. | B．Donated | C．Rescued. | D．Protected. |
| A．Tourism Suffers Great Loss in the Wildfire | B．All of Canada Have Acted to Beat Wildfire |
| C．Most of Canada Is Affected by the Wildfire | D．Wildfire Won’t Stop Canada’s Tourism Development |
6 . 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. |
要求：
语言准确，行文连贯，层次清晰，书写规范，词数60~80。
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8 . When I was a little girl, every time when my dad was repairing something, he would ask me to hold the hammer. Then we could have a time for a
I grew up and left home for the college, and since then, he had been
Several years ago, he was
One Sunday morning, we had a telephone talk
After his
| A．change | B．cooperation | C．conversation | D．debate |
| A．contacting | B．calling | C．educating | D．meeting |
| A．decorating | B．clearing | C．repairing | D．painting |
| A．labor | B．rest | C．heat | D．misery |
| A．talk | B．tend | C．hand | D．keep |
| A．joining | B．visiting | C．following | D．leaving |
| A．putting together | B．giving away | C．tearing apart | D．making up |
| A．prepare | B．apologize | C．apply | D．delay |
| A．on time | B．at first | C．in return | D．as usual |
| A．exactly | B．freely | C．lately | D．personally |
| A．hospital | B．flight | C．journey | D．treatment |
| A．pleasure | B．interest | C．choice | D．time |
| A．death | B．illness | C．recovery | D．suffering |
| A．efforts | B．demands | C．thoughts | D．struggles |
| A．relief | B．attention | C．comfort | D．courage |
9 . Have you ever been in mid-conversation with someone, when you look over and find them standing in the same position as you or holding the same facial expression? It may seem like they have consciously copied you, but it is much more likely that it is the chameleon (变色龙) effect at play.
The chameleon effect is the unconscious imitation of another person’s gestures or behavior. Just as a chameleon attempts to match any environment’s colors, people acquire the behavior of others to bring them closer together and help make their interactions smooth.
The chameleon effect was confirmed in an experiment by psychologists John Bargh and Tanya Chartrand in 1999. The part of their experiment included 78 people, who each spoke with an experimenter. During the test, Bargh and Chartrand studied whether participants would copy the actions of someone they hadn’t met before, like moving the foot and touching the face. The second part measured the impact that copying someone has on the person being imitated.
In the first stage, participants increased their face touching by 20% and their foot movement by 50% while in conversation about a photograph with the experimenter. The individuals weren’t aware of what they were being studied for, and the photograph was used to catch their attention to insure unconscious acts. The second stage involved half of the participants being copied, and then rating the likability of the experimenter. The results, showed that those who were imitated scored the experimenter higher. It has shown that when someone copies our behavior, we develop more positive feelings about them. These interactions could be a person unconsciously willing to be liked, and forming a moment of connection.
The main reasons behind humans’ imitation are positive. However, when people carry this chameleon effect to the extreme, they can lose their sense of self. Those who change their entire personalities in different groups often go undetected. But more common signs of the chameleon effect are easier to notice. Next time you are in a social gathering, take a look around and you might just see some chameleons for yourself.
1. Why do people imitate others’ behavior?| A．To show admiration for others. | B．To adapt to the surroundings. |
| C．To establish a connection with others. | D．To attract others’ attention. |
| A．By directing their attention to a photo. | B．By keeping an eye on their actions. |
| C．By telling them the purpose of the study. | D．By evaluating the impacts of imitation. |
| A．People tend to like those who imitate their behavior. |
| B．Too much of the chameleon effect can be beneficial. |
| C．People imitating others are not easy to be detected. |
| D．The copied movements help people to feel relaxed. |
| A．Students adopt teachers’ accents for fun after class. |
| B．People change their habits to please others on purpose. |
| C．A comedian copies a celebrity vividly on stage. |
| D．A husband and his wife share similar behaviors over time. |
My second year in college had started. I hadn’t decided whether to fly home for the new year yet. Although I had missed the holiday the year before, and I didn’t want to miss it two years in a row, I didn’t have the money for the ticket, plus I wasn’t sure I could get enough time off from my job. All that wondering changed when my mom called. She got right to the point: “Your grandmother isn’t doing well. I decided I should fly out there for the new year.” Mom was an only child, so that made sense to me. But I was not ready for what I heard next. “We decided you would want to come along so I covered your ticket.”
We arrived as scheduled. Mom was anxious to see her parents, especially her mother, who was really sick. After saying hello to them, we settled in the living room. Grandpa helped Grandma lie down again and told us we would have a big lunch at noon.
He went into the kitchen. Mom walked up and down in the living room. Finally, I asked her what the matter was. “He can’t cook,” she said, wondering. “How’s he supposed to fix a holiday meal for us?”I tried to reason with her.
“Can’t you smell dinner? It smells good to me. Grandma is upstairs resting. Grandpa is the only one who could be cooking.” But we couldn’t see through the kitchen door. She had an idea. “Let’s go out to the front door and see from outside the window what’s going on inside. Then we will know who is really cooking.” Grandpa was very hard of hearing, so he didn’t hear us leave. It was a crazy plan, but I followed her around the house to the kitchen windows.
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。
There we watched Grandpa fill water glasses, make coffee and do everything skillfully.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking at the nice food on the table, Mom asked, “When did you learn to cook?”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
