1 . Predicting extreme weather events is a tricky business. Changing climate conditions have increased the frequency of severe storms, floods, and heatwaves, along with larger wildfires. As a result, scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for more accurate forecasts that help to minimize damage and save lives.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have worked together with meteorologists (气象学家) to analyze more than 50,000 weather satellite images to quickly identify storms. They found comma-shaped cloud formations that often lead to severe weather such as hail, blizzards, high winds, and thunderstorms.
Computers were then taught using computer vision and machine learning to automatically detect these clouds from satellite images, with almost 100 percent accuracy, in less than a minute. By refocusing meteorologists’ attention on potential storm cloud formation the AI tool helped predict 64 percent of severe weather events and beat established detection systems.
Expensive supercomputers are often used to process vast amounts of data needed for accurate weather prediction. But powerful Al methods can run on smaller computers. Climate risk and planning company ClimateAI uses a technique to downscale global weather forecasts to a local scale, cutting down on costs and computing power.
It uses a machine learning technique that pits two neural networks against each other. The neural networks - designed to work like neurons connected in the brain-fight and train each other using global weather data until they get a result.
Using this method ClimateAI researchers generate highly accurate and inexpensive local forecasts for hours or days ahead. And because it is not as costly, it allows poorer countries affected by climate change to use forecasts to change the way they farm, build bridges, roads, or homes, and adapt to extreme weather.
Average costs associated with extreme weather events in the United States have increased steadily since 1980. These have costly impacts on cities’ basic services, infrastructure, housing, human livelihoods, and health. AI helps us to calculate that risk and can be used as a preventive measure.
1. What can be inferred from Para.1?A.Inaccurate forecasts minimize the destruction. |
B.AI enhances accuracy in making weather prediction. |
C.Less natural disasters are caused by climate change. |
D.Changeable climate decreased the frequency of serious storms. |
A.Being steadier. | B.Being cheaper. |
C.Being quicker. | D.Being more precise. |
A.To explain how ClimateAI works. |
B.To introduce why AI methods are used. |
C.To show where ClimateAI can be applied. |
D.To identify what effects of the AI tool has. |
A.Critical. | B.Approving. |
C.Objective. | D.Indifferent. |
2 . Many years ago, a teenage boy named David arrived at a children’s institution in England. He was referred to me, a (an)
I recognized the limitations of psychology in
Gradually, David began to
David showed me how one can reach out to another person without
A.doctor | B.tutor | C.adviser | D.psychologist |
A.ashamed | B.depressed | C.disappointed | D.annoyed |
A.remained | B.seemed | C.fell | D.became |
A.feeling | B.understanding | C.addressing | D.causing |
A.relax | B.heal | C.speak | D.play |
A.peace | B.chaos | C.silence | D.pain |
A.backed | B.expected | C.struggled | D.cheated |
A.comfort | B.security | C.direction | D.belief |
A.open up | B.show off | C.break down | D.fit in |
A.regularly | B.slowly | C.actively | D.curiously |
A.communication | B.company | C.contact | D.recognition |
A.suffering | B.loss | C.participation | D.progress |
A.thinking | B.turning | C.bending | D.tripping |
A.chance | B.favor | C.duty | D.turn |
A.limitation | B.hesitation | C.regret | D.words |
3 . Spring breakers don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy life in the sunshine for a week. U. S. News carefully considered everything to bring you the best inexpensive spring break destinations.
Key West
This small island in the Florida Keys is known for its odd residents and best snorkeling (浮潜) opportunities. While you’ll find plenty of spots for partying along rowdy Duval Street, you can also soak up some culture at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum. Plus, Key West offers several budget-friendly vacation rentals, so you can save your cash for bars and boat tours.
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is a tried-and-true Florida spring break location that is sure to please the masses. Scope out a spot across the town’s 27 miles of white sand beaches to sunbathe, play volleyball or scan the horizon for bottlenose dolphins. Hotel prices are reasonable if you book your accommodations in advance. Just note: This town bans alcohol consumption on the beach during March, so you’ll have to enjoy your adult beverages elsewhere.
South Padre Island
With hotels offering nightly rates around $200 or less and DJs and celebrities holding court at nightclubs, South Padre Island, Texas, is a hot spring break destination for college students. This South Texas local e is only about 30 miles north of the U. S.-Mexico border, meaning you’ll get to enjoy warm weather without having to leave the country. As an added bonus, the island offers a free public shuttle system, so budget-conscious travelers won’t have to worry about spending money on a rental car.
1. What can tourists do in Key West?A.Have a good surfing. |
B.Bath e in the sun on the beach. |
C.Throw a party anywhere on the island. |
D.Visit the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum. |
A.The hotel prices are low whenever you go. |
B.It is a perfect destination for spring vacation. |
C.You can drink some wine on the beach in March. |
D.You can see the bottlenose dolphins in person. |
A.They are budget-friendly. | B.They are alive with wildlife. |
C.They offer a taste of culture. | D.They offer free public shuttle system. |
4 . “What beautiful music!”I shout loudly as my 9-year-old son practices playing the violin. He’s used to this praise; I give rewards like that most days. But every once in a while, I skip it, and when I do, I can see the disappointment on his face when he’s finished.
Am I a bad mom? Conventional wisdom says that consistency is key to parenting since it enables your child to predict how you’ll react, leading to good behavior. And it’s true that children need some level of predictability in their lives, particularly when it comes to discipline.
But research suggests that inconsistent gifts and praise can have a greater effect on motivation. While we all like to live in a predictable world, we often respond more strongly to unpredictable rewards.
In one experiment, my colleagues and I told participants they’d be paid if they could drink about one-and-a-half quarts of water in two minutes or less. In one condition, we offered people a $2 fixed reward. In another, there was an uncertain reward of either $2 or $1. The certain reward was a better deal, yet many more people successfully met the challenge when assigned an uncertain reward. Resolving the uncertainty — whether they would win $1 or $2 — was significantly more motivating than winning $2 for sure.
Here is one of the reasons why uncertainty is motivating. What scientists call “intermittent (间歇性) reinforcement” — rewarding behavior on some but not all occasions — makes it more arduous to know when rewards will show up. If you very often, but don’t always, praise your child for completing their chores, they’ll keep up the good behavior in the hope of receiving praise the next time.
So don’t assume that if kids are always praised for finishing their homework, they’ll be more likely to do it. Do praise young people for a job well done, just not every time. And pick rewards out of a hat when they complete chores—the surprise prize might keep everyone motivated to get things done.
1. Why does the author mention her kid’s story in the first paragraph?A.To display the conclusion of her research. |
B.To show that her kid is very smart. |
C.To explain that she is a good mom. |
D.To lead in the topic. |
A.It was more inspiring. | B.It was more demanding. |
C.It was fair to all participants. | D.It was easy to get more rewards. |
A.Convenient. | B.Popular. | C.Flexible. | D.Difficult. |
A.Why Consistency Is Critical to Parenting |
B.Why Resolving Uncertainty Is Rewarding |
C.How Inconsistent Praise Affects Motivation |
D.How Parents’ Behaviors Affect Their Children |
1. How many kids were there in the research?
A.10. | B.14. | C.400. |
A.Less than 3 hours. | B.About 5 hours. | C.More than 6 hours. |
A.Students should reduce their time on the screen. |
B.Parents shouldn’t buy mobile phones for their children. |
C.Parents should communicate with their children more frequently. |
As Valentine’s Day, a time for expressing affection through the exchange of presents, drew near, Kendra found herself seated at the kitchen table, carefully penning her name on Valentine’s cards for her classmates. She recognized her own hesitation; words didn’t come easily to her. While she envied the ease with which her peers talked and laughed, her shyness often kept her quiet.
Kendra grabbed another card. . Her eyes lit up at the phrase “You’re dynamite (引起轰动的人或物)!”—a term that would undoubtedly delight her Grammy, who frequently used the expression to praise their festive decorations. “Well, that looks dynamite!” Grammy would exclaim, her approval filling Kendra with warmth.
Just as Kendra was signing the cards, her mother came in, sharing the sad news of Elise, their neighbor, and her recent accident that led to a broken leg, restricting her to home schooling for the coming weeks. Kendra felt sorry for Elise, and quickly picked the most splendid valentine, hurrying to Elise’s home.
Upon arrival, Kendra’s look fell upon the life-sized deer statue decorating the front yard. She studied it, saying to herself, “Wouldn’t this deer look cool with a big heart around his neck? Elise could look out of the window and see it decorated for Valentine’s day.”
With this idea, Kendra got the sizable red heart her Grammy had given her, tied it with string, and hung it around the statue’s neck like a festive chain. The next day, she decorated the antlers (鹿角) with a variety of smaller hearts. It was during this act of kindness that Colin and Amy, Elise’s fellow classmates, happened upon the scene. “Are you decorating Elise’s deer for Valentine’s Day?” they asked. Kendra confirmed with a nod, explaining her intention to cheer up Elise. Despite her uncertainty about what to add next, Colin proposed adding some color, while Amy suggested putting decorations on the deer’s back and forehead. United by a shared purpose, they agreed to meet later.
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。
That afternoon, they met to decorate the deer with the materials they had sourced.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just then, Elise’s front door opened, and Elise stuck her head out.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jiangsu, known for its unique blend of innovation and preservation, is a true treasure. I was
My first stop was Suzhou.
Actually, the mindset of modernization with deep respect for the past isn’t only unique to Suzhou
8 . In October 2020, 71-year-old Bill Sumiel, battling kidney failure, found himself in an unlikely situation—a ride with Uber that would change his life. Little did he know that his
Having lived with a(n)
Now, Sumiel cherishes precious moments with his family. Letts, although relocated to another country for work commitments,
A.experiment | B.encounter | C.competition | D.appointment |
A.passengers | B.travellers | C.friends | D.strangers |
A.failure | B.infection | C.condition | D.loss |
A.bonded | B.debated | C.reflected | D.observed |
A.Naturally | B.Eventually | C.Normally | D.Directly |
A.delighted | B.puzzled | C.surprised | D.embarrassed |
A.requested | B.realized | C.predicted | D.hesitated |
A.consulting | B.treating | C.admitting | D.testing |
A.match | B.candidate | C.partner | D.supporter |
A.relieving | B.enhancing | C.freeing | D.rescuing |
A.estimated | B.shared | C.recognized | D.recalled |
A.interested in | B.cautious about | C.sympathetic to | D.grateful for |
A.acknowledges | B.maintains | C.explores | D.ends |
A.reunion | B.commitment | C.conversation | D.memory |
A.participation | B.transportation | C.transformation | D.interaction |
9 . In today’s digital era, social media users are increasingly coming across fake news online. This leads to the pressing issue: What causes people to fall for misinformation on the Internet?
According to researchers at the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, users can easily fall into an echo chamber (回声室)—a sort of virtual space where users consume only one-sided news, eventually distrusting any opposing views. “We all tend to agree with the group opinion. Hence, people naturally get together with others who hold the same opinion,” said Dongwon Lee, one of the researchers. “But if you’re not cautious, there is a high risk of falling into an echo chamber.”
To prevent this phenomenon, the researchers have crafted a novel tool, a game named ChamberBreaker, to help players resist echo chambers and reduce the rate of fake news spread. The fundamental approach employed by ChamberBreaker centers around a decision-making procedure that mirrors the creation of echo chambers. In ChamberBreaker, a player is tasked with trying to have community members fall into an echo chamber. To begin, the player is randomly assigned a situation that focuses on a health, political or environmental issue, and is presented with six pieces of news on that topic. Then, the player selects news that could cause the other members to fall into an echo chamber while at the same time maintaining their trust. If successful, the community members will fall into an echo chamber and the player will witness the resulting negative effects on the community.
After developing ChamberBreaker, researchers tested it with over 800 subjects to see if it raised awareness of echo chambers and changed news consumption behaviors. The researchers found that those who played ChamberBreaker were significantly more likely to state their intention to observe online information from more diverse perspectives and showed an increased awareness of the echo chamber phenomenon.
Ultimately, the researchers hope that their methodology can excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study related to information consumption. The application of tools like ChamberBreaker, which focuses on fostering analytical reasoning, may lead us towards a more informed online community.
1. What can be learned about an online echo chamber?A.It encourages well-judged views. |
B.It gathers like-minded individuals. |
C.It functions as a virtual reality platform. |
D.It serves as a tool for identifying fake information. |
A.Assignment of situations. | B.Trust-building exercises. |
C.News selection strategy. | D.Community impact assessment. |
A.The results of scientific testing. |
B.The theoretical framework of the game. |
C.The description of the game procedures. |
D.The common challenges faced during gameplay. |
A.Reducing news inquiry. | B.Encouraging passive reading. |
C.Strengthening prejudiced views. | D.Enhancing critical thinking. |
10 . At just 17, Lauren Schroeder has already made a significant impact on her community. Her voyage began at 14, volunteering at a food shelter. While packing boxes with canned goods for needy families, Lauren detected a substantial shortage: fresh vegetables. This observation sparked an idea that soon grew into a community-wide initiative.
Lauren pictured transforming part of her family’s 150-acre farm into a garden committed to growing produce for local families. Her proposal was met with a hint of concern from her mother, Katie Schroeder. While supportive, she also foresaw the extensive labor involved. Despite the agricultural background—her family typically planted soybeans and corn—vegetable cultivation was a novel pursuit. Nevertheless, Lauren was eager to tackle the nutritional deficiency she had uncovered.
The hard work began in earnest. Not discouraged by potential obstacles, Lauren dived into research to be a seasoned vegetable cultivator and secured a grant (拨款) from the National FFA Organization to cover initial costs. Subsequently, she spent two to three hours daily watering her crops by hand through the hot Iowa summers, sandwiching this commitment between softball practices. Furthermore, she carefully tended to her garden, combating weeds and harvesting crops, with green beans proving particularly challenging.
Eventually, with assistance from her younger brothers and sisters, Lauren’s half-acre garden produced 15 varieties of vegetables. In its first year, the garden generated 40 pounds of produce, benefiting food banks, nursing homes, and soup kitchens.
Motivated by the early achievements, Lauren doubled the garden’s size. To date, she has donated over 7,000 pounds of produce, valued at approximately $15,000, commanding community respect. Her work has found a deep echo among others, notably a mother from a local shelter who was grateful for the fresh food that reminded her children of home.
Lauren’s inspiration is straightforward yet deep-seated. “I wanted to have something that would impact people,” she told KWQC. Her actions demonstrate her belief in the power of community and the joy obtained from helping others—a feeling that will undoubtedly shape her future initiatives.
1. Why did Lauren initiate the community garden?A.To pursue a new hobby. | B.To explore plant cultivation. |
C.To fill a food shelter’s vegetable gap. | D.To gain recognition in her community. |
A.By doing trial and error. | B.By conducting thorough research. |
C.By engaging in fundraising activities. | D.By maintaining consistent hard work |
A.She was passionate and determined. | B.She was inexperienced but creative. |
C.She was observant and popular. | D.She was concerned but hardworking. |
A.Garden to Table: a Solo Effort | B.Local Garden: Hope for the Globe |
C.Harvesting Hope: Community Growth | D.Farming Fundamentals: a Teen’s Journey |