1 . People in Japan tend to live longer and stay healthier in their later years, with an increasing number of old people living alone. Japan is on a fast track to “ultra-age” with people aged 65 or above accounting for 28 percent of its total population in 2019；it was 26.7 percent in 2017. On the other hand, the number of births in 2019 fell to its lowest (about 941,000) since records began in 1899.
Demand for care services for elderly people has increased. A shrinking (缩小) working population means fewer able-bodied adults are available to look after the elderly. State-provided facilities for the elderly are not enough, which causes elderly people to turn to private ones but they are expensive.
The country will be short of 380,000 of health nurses by 2025. The government has to turn to advanced robots to meet the shortage. A study found that using robots encouraged one third of the people to become more active and independent. Yet there is no robot that can provide the emotional support to the elderly.
Japan provides a case study for China, which is also faced with a fast aging population. 17.23 million babies were born in China in 2019, about 630,000 fewer than in 2018. People aged 60 accounted for 17.3 of China’s population in 2019. With a shortage of elderly care facilities and unbalanced supply, China may find it hard to deal with the rapidly increasing number of senior citizens.
To meet the challenge, the Chinese government should make policy changes, which Japan is unwilling or unable to do or even consider. China should pay attention to the signals its aging population is sending and take proper and timely action.
1. What do we learn about the old Japanese?| A．More and more old Japanese prefer to live on their own. |
| B．A lot of old Japanese have to continue working at old age. |
| C．Some old Japanese remain active with the help of robots. |
| D．Japanese aged 65 or above make up one third of its population. |
| A．They are expensive. | B．They are inconvenient. |
| C．They are affordable. | D．They are fashionable. |
| A．They hire foreign health nurses. |
| B．They employ advanced robots. |
| C．They set up more nursing schools. |
| D．They train the elderly to tend themselves. |
| A．Japan has to take action to deal with the aging population. |
| B．Robots can’t provide emotional support to the elderly. |
| C．China is now faced with a fast aging population. |
| D．Japan’s aging population issue is a timely lesson for China. |
2 . Some cities and lawmakers are resisting crime-fighting tech owing to bias (偏见) and accuracy concerns. Police departments around the U.S. are asking citizens to trust them to use facial recognition software as a handy tool in their crime-fighting toolbox. But some lawmakers — and even some technology giants — are against it.
Take the western Massachusetts city of Springfield, where many residents are Latino or black. Springfield police say they have no plans to use facial recognition systems, but some City Council members are moving to block any future government use of the technology anyway.
At an October hearing on the subject, Springfield City Councilman, Orlando Ramos, defended the technology. “The facial recognition technology does not drop a net from the sky and put you to prison,” he said, noting that it could serve as a useful investigative tool. However, he doesn’t want to take any risks. “It would only lead to more racial discrimination.” he said, citing studies that found higher error rates for facial recognition software used to identify women and people with darker skins.
Similar debates across the country are highlighting racial issues and concerns about the technology’s accuracy. Axon, which supplies body-worn cameras nationwide, had already formed an artificial intelligence ethics board (伦理委员会)that concluded facial recognition technology isn’t yet dependable enough to justify its use on police cameras. Axon Chief Executive Rick Smith said, “Even if facial recognition software was perfectly accurate, the ability to track people raises privacy concerns. “Do we want everybody who walks near a police officer to get their face identified and logged in a database?” he said.
Nevertheless, Todd Pastorini, general manager at biometric forensics (生物取证) company DataWorks Plus, said it’s the “extremely effective” method of running images through photos to help identify a suspect. “Society and the public are going to get frustrated, if governments refuse to adopt a technology that keeps improving”, he said. In his eyes, facial recognition hits are just one part of an investigation.
1. What is Orlando Ramos’ attitude towards facial recognition?| A．Hopeful. | B．Cautious. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．Gender discrimination. | B．Speed limit. |
| C．Accuracy rate. | D．Steadiness control. |
| A．It appears to cause prejudice. | B．It brings about privacy concerns. |
| C．Its technology is reliable. | D．Its accuracy needs improving. |
| A．Facial recognition tool meets with resistance. |
| B．All the people disapprove of facial recognition. |
| C．Facial recognition is the only tool of investigation. |
| D．Governments should ban facial recognition. |
3 . The first World Friendship Day was proposed for July 30, 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organization to foster a culture of peace through friendship.
Days before the festival, card and gift companies launch a large campaign(活动) to attract people into buying cards and gifts for their friends. Streets and stores are filled with advertising programs aimed at young people.
Since its beginning in 1935, Friendship Day celebrations have come a long way.
| A．The popular customs of Friendship Day include handing over roses, |
| B．The idea of honoring friendship was adopted by a few countries in Asia. |
| C．Restaurants offer special discounts to make the most of the time as well. |
| D．These days, however, it is celebrated with a lot of showing off and expenses. |
| E．These are new ways of celebration of this day that have grown in popularity. |
| F．The original idea for a day of friendship came from Hallmark cards in the 1930s. |
| G．But however much the ways of celebration have changed, the basic idea behind the occasion remains the same. |
4 . In ancient Greece, Socrates was a widely-recognized wise man. One day one fellow met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”. “Triple filter?”. “That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” “No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and…”. “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t know if it’s true or not.
Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?” . “No, on the contrary…”. “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true.
You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?” “No, not really.”
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”
Well we can always participate in loose talks to curb our boredom. But when it comes to your friends its not worth it. Always avoid talking behind the back about your near and dear friends.
1. Why did Socrates stop the fellow when he wanted to tell him about his friend?| A．Because he didn’t know the fellow. |
| B．Because he wanted to tell the fellow something first. |
| C．Because he knew the fellow wouldn’t tell him something useful. |
| D．Because he wanted the fellow to think twice before speaking. |
| A．Socrates was a great philosopher in Ancient Greece. |
| B．The fellow wanted to tell Socrates something bad about his friend. |
| C．Socrates was curious to hear what the fellow wanted to tell him. |
| D．It’s not a good idea to gossip about our friends behind the back. |
| A．increase | B．describe |
| C．reduce | D．hide |
5 . Smart Home Products for Living a Connected Life
What makes something a smart home product? Generally, it’s defined by its ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network, allowing users to interact（互动）with it from their smartphones.We’ve rounded up some cool, diverse offerings that you’ll love to have in your home.
Nest Cam IQ
walmart.com
$299.00
The Nest Cam IQ is a beautifully designed home security camera that can recognize faces. It can warn you if there’s a stranger in your home. The device also supports two-way communication via built-in microphones and a powerful speaker.
Logitech Harmony Elite
amazon.com
$249.99
The Logitech Harmony Elite is one of the best universal remote controls available on the market. It can control just about every piece of electronics you own（it supports over 270，000 devices！）in every room of your house or apartment, including TVs，streaming devices, and sound systems.
Apple HomePod
bhphotovideo.com
$349.00
The Apple HomePod has better audio quality than any other smart speaker available today. Available in white or space gray, the Siri-powered device also allows you to control a number of devices with your voice.
August Smart Lock Pro
amazon.com
$279.99
The August Smart Lock Pro is compatible（兼容的）with most locks. A mobile app allows you to manage access to the lock, check its usage history, and get informed when someone opens the door. You can control it and check on the state of your door with voice commands.
1. What can the Nest Cam IQ help you do？| A．Properly use your smartphone camera |
| B．Control electronics with your voice. |
| C．Check the locks of your house. |
| D．Keep your home safe. |
| A．Nest Cam IQ. |
| B．Apple HomePod. |
| C．August Smart Lock Pro. |
| D．Logitech Harmony Elite. |
| A．Technology. |
| B．News. |
| C．Society. |
| D．Education. |
6 . Mary Anning was an English fossil collector, dealer and paleontologist(古生物学家). Her fossil-hunting helped change the way people thought about the world.
Mary was born into a poor family in England on May 21, 1799. She lived in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, in Dorset. The family had nine children. Only Mary and her brother Joseph grew up. Mary’s father took his children along the beach. They picked up shells and stones to sell to visitors. Mary did not go to school much. Her family was too poor. And schools did not teach children about fossils. Mary could read and write. She taught herself. She learned about rocks and how bodies are made.
In 1811 when Mary and Joseph were fossil hunting, Joseph saw a bone sticking out of the rock. Mary had a hammer to chip away at the rock. Very carefully she uncovered it. She found the first complete fossil of the ichthyosaur(鱼龙).
Since then, Mary became crazy about fossil hunting. She liked to hunt on the beach after a storm. The wind, rain and waves made the rocks crumble It was easy to spot fossils. Most days Mary went fossil hunting with her dog, Tray.
Rich friends helped Mary by selling fossils for her. They sent her money. Scientists wrote letters and came to see her. One good friend was William Buckland, a professor at Oxford University. Mary also opened a shop to sell fossils, stones and shells. She chatted with visitors.
Mary Anning died inl847. How evolution(进化)works was explained by Charles Darwin not long after Mary died. Her fossils had helped scientists understand how things began.
1. Why did Mary’s father take his children along the beach?| A．To enjoy life. | B．To make a living. |
| C．To look for fossils. | D．To teach them about fossils. |
| A．Her father was a paleontologist. | B．Her father educated her at home. |
| C．She had nine brothers and sisters in all. | D．She might be popular at that time. |
| A．Charles Darwin. | B．Mary’s dog. | C．Mary. | D．Joseph. |
| A．break | B．shake | C．float | D．dive |
7 . Welcome to Oxford University Museums
Ashmolean Museum
Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the oldest museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the world. It houses the University’s extensive collections of art and antiquities, ranging back over four millennia.
Location: Beaumont Street Tel: 01865278000
Open: Tue. Sun. 10: 00-17: 00.
Charge: Admission is free; special exhibitions are ticketed and a charge may apply
Note: For group bookings Tel:01865278015
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The University Museum of Natural History houses the University’s collections of zoological, entomological, paleontological and mineral specimens. With 4. 5 million specimens it is the largest collection of its type outside of the national collections.
Location: Parks Road Tel: 01865 272950
Open: 10: 00-17: 00 daily
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
Museum of the History of Science
The Museum of the History of Science is housed in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building. It contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments.
Location: Broad Street Tel: 01865277280
Open: Tue.Sun.12: 00-17:00
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Booking required for groups of 15 or more
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects from every continent and from throughout human history.
Location: Parks Road enter via the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Tel:01865270927
Open: Tue. Sun. and Bank Holiday Mondays: 10: 00-16: 30
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
1. If a group of 20 students want to visit the oldest museum in the UK, they should call_______| A．01865277280 | B．01865278015 |
| C．01865270927 | D．01865272950 |
| A．Ashmolean Museum. | B．Museum of the History of Science. |
| C．Oxford University Museum of Natural History. | D．Pitt Rivers Museum |
| A．Ashmolean Museum is on the Broad Street. |
| B．Pitt Rivers Museum contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments. |
| C．We don’t have to book in advance if our group want to visit the University Museum of Natural History. |
| D．We can enter the Pitt Rivers Museum through the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. |
8 . Any foreigner who has tried to learn Chinese can tell how hard it is to master the tones required to speak and understand. And anyone who has tried to learn to play the violin or other instruments can report similar challenges.
Now researchers have found that people with musical training have an easier time learning Chinese. Writing in the online edition of Nature Neuroscience，researchers from Northwestern University say that both skills draw on the same parts of the brain that help people discover changes in pitch(音调).
One of the study's authors，Nina Kraus，said the findings suggested that studying music “actually tunes our sensory system”.This means that schools that want children to do well in languages should hesitate before cutting music programs，Dr. Kraus said. She said music training might also help children with language problems.
Mandarin(普通话)speakers have been shown to have a more complex encoding(编码) of pitch patterns in their brains than English speakers do. This is because in Mandarin and other Asian languages，pitch plays a central role. A singlesyllable word can have several meanings depending on how it is intoned.
For this study，the researchers looked at 20 nonChinese speaking volunteers，half with no musical background and half who have studied an instrument for at least six years.
As they were shown a movie，the volunteers also heard an audio tape of the Mandarin word “mi” in three of its meanings:squint，bewilder and rice. The researchers recorded activities in their brain stems to see how well they were processing the sounds. Those with a music background showed much more brain activities in response to the Chinese sounds.
The lead author of the study，Patrick C.M.Wong，said it might work both ways. It appears that native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments.
1. When learning Chinese，a foreigner will find ________.| A．he has a difficult time learning music at the same time |
| B．he has an easier time learning music at the same time |
| C．it is hard to master the tones required to speak and understand |
| D．it is easy to use the brain to help him discover changes in pitch |
| A．Because there is the same difficulty in learning Chinese and music. |
| B．Because skills to learn the two make use of the same parts of the brain. |
| C．Because music training might help people with language study. |
| D．Because people who do well in Chinese study do well in music. |
| A．created | B．spelled | C．seemed | D．pronounced |
| A．Mandarin Speakers Are Smarter than English Speakers |
| B．Skilled Ear for Music May Help Language Study |
| C．Pitch Plays a Central Role in Chinese Learning |
| D．Schools Need to Develop Music Programs |
9 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses （球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?| A．Cycling around a lake. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
| A．it is an outdoor sport |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it uses fewer resources |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to go in for green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
10 . An 114 kilograms mother, Cacia Griggs, was ashamed into losing weight after crushing her daughter, four-year-old Isabelle 's bed while reading her a bedtime story.
Just one year later she has lost 50 kilograms, dropped to a size 10, and even was employed by her dream company.
One night, having asked her 29-year-old husband to carry Isabelle up to bed because she couldn't fit through the stair gate, Cacia followed them upstairs and lay down on the edge of the bed with her daughter to read her a story.
“I heard a loud snap(噼啪声),” she said. “I’d broken the entire side beam of her bed because I was overweight. I was upset.”
On her first family holiday with Chris and Isabelle in Turkey last year, Cacia had a similar moment when she couldn't fit the plane seatbelt around her.
Cacia began the Cambridge Weight Plan in June 2011, changing her high-calorie diet into soups, shakes and bars. In August this year, Cacia reached her goal weight and dropped from a size 24 to a size 10.
“My weight began to drop off,” she said. “In no time at all I was wearing smaller clothes and was over the moon the first time I brought a size 16, I couldn't believe it fitted.”
Cacia says the best thing about losing the weight is being able to lie with her daughter again on her bed instead of sitting on the floor next to her.
1. Why did Cacia determine to lose weight?| A．She couldn’t read the stories for her daughter. |
| B．She crushed her daughter’s bed. |
| C．She couldn’t fit the plane seatbelt around her. |
| D．She couldn’t fit through the stair gate. |
| A．pleased | B．unbelievable | C．curious | D．unhappy |
| A．by doing some exercise | B．by going on a diet |
| C．by having a balanced diet | D．by taking some drugs |
| A．A mother’s Love | B．A crashed bed |
| C．A way to lose weight | D．A heathy diet |
