2 . A deep neural (神经系统的) network trained to restore ancient Greek texts can do so with 72% accuracy when used by historians, suggests a Nature paper. The findings could assist with the restoration and sort of newly discovered or uncertain inscriptions (碑文) with improved speed and accuracy, advancing our understanding of ancient history.

To understand the history of ancient civilizations, historians study the inscriptions created by past individuals, written directly on materials- such as stone, pottery or metal- that have survived until today. However, many inscriptions have been damaged over the centuries. Their texts are now vague and their date of writing is uncertain. Specialists in the study of inscriptions can reconstruct missing texts, but their traditional methods are highly complex and time-consuming.

To overcome the restrictions of current epigraphic methods, Yannis Assael, Thea Sommerschield and their colleagues tested a deep neural network (named Ithaca), a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that was trained to restore, date and place ancient Greek inscriptions. The authors found that Ithaca could achieve 62% accuracy when used alone to restore damaged texts, and 72% accuracy when it is used by a historian. Additionally, Ithaca could also help to determine inscriptions’ place and date of writing; in their experiments, it attributed inscriptions to their original locations with 71% accuracy and dated them to less than 30 years from the date ranges proposed by historians.

The findings could unlock the cooperative potential between artificial intelligence and historians, and improve our understanding of human history.

Common fields such as education, healthcare, catering, and industry have long been dominated by artificial intelligence, and this technology is now finding its way into relatively niche (小众) fields to more fully exploit its talents. Archaeology (考古学) is one of its latest fields.

1. Which can describe the neural network’s work?

A．Uncertain but useful.	B．Imperfect and traditional.
C．Faster and more precise.	D．Helpful but time-consuming.

2. What can be inferred about inscriptions from paragraph 2?

A．The ancients wrote inscriptions on hard materials on purpose.

B．The history of ancient civilization is uncovered by inscriptions.

C．Historians are able to recover the texts of ancient inscriptions totally.

D．Experts are capable of comprehending inscriptions despite complexity.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards AI’s potential use?

A．Doubtful.

B．Concerned.

C．Promising.

D．Opposing.

4. Which of the following is probably the best title?

A．AI’s current wide use.	B．Historians’ new contributions.
C．Restoring ancient texts using AI.	D．A newly-developed neural network.

3 . The latest housing trend in America has nothing to do with decoration, but rather the rise of intergenerational roommates. Described as separated by at least one generation, intergenerational roommate arrangements are growing in the United States, and intergenerational houses have increased four times since 1971.

Pick your explanation — growing isolation among the elderly, rising rents, average life-expectancy increasing, an aging population, or rising college tuition, the fact of the matter is that older folks have space available, and tend to be happy to have a young person around.

In March 2021, there were 59. 7 million U. S. residents who lived with multiple generations under one roof.

“It was perfect-Judith has become like my family,” said Nadia Abdullah, a 25-year-old robotics student who in 2019 moved in with the 64-year-old lawyer, Judith. The arrangement of $700 a month plus help around the house has put her just 6-miles from Boston, and 30 minutes from her robotics job in Beverly Mass. Judith and Nadia were matched together thanks to Nesterly, a renting center specifically designed to create intergenerational roommates.

“Through Nesterly, I lived with Sarah while attending Harvard,” writes a young Nesterly reviewer named Kaplan who provided the exact sort of insight into the service one would imagine. “She provided the type of profound knowledge you just can’t Google-showing me how to garden, to cut a fish, and inject French Romanticism into life.”

Biologically-speaking, an arrangement such as Sarah and Kaplan is kind of the natural state of humanity. Scholars believe this is because our intelligence and life experiences, passed down to the next generation, acts as a secondary way to ensure our genetics are passed on; i. e. if you can live long enough to explain to your children and grandchildren exactly which mushrooms they can eat, which snakes are poisonous, how to hunt with a bow and arrow, those offspring will have a better chance of survival.

1. Which summarizes “intergenerational roommates” best?

A．Separated generations’ reunion again.

B．Mixed generations sharing houses together.

C．International older folks’ gathering.

D．Different generations living alone.

2. What contributes to the rise of the latest housing trend in America?

A．The elderly with houses desire for young guys’ company.

B．Isolation is growing sharply among the older folks.

C．The average life standard is increasing.

D．The college tuition is rising.

3. What can be learned from Abdullah and Kaplan’s examples?

A．They have a deep understanding of the service.

B．They live happily with the elderly free of charge.

C．The elderly provide more knowledge than Google does.

D．The housing trend actually benefits the young a lot.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The exact guidance about the living skills.

B．The way that intergenerational roommates live.

C．The latest study about intergenerational roommates.

D．The reason why intergenerational roommates exist.

4 . Since 2018, Jason has been helping sick kids become superheroes. After watching his then one-year-old daughter Angela undergo chemotherapy (化疗), he came up with the idea of “Supertees”. Designed with a cape, the shirts act as a virtual armour (盔甲) for children fighting the worst villain of all- cancer.

“Sitting by her hospital bed I. knew there was nothing I could do to help Angela, until I noticed how hard it was to change her clothes while she was connected to various monitors. This is when the idea for the Supertee was born,” says Jason, whose daughter had a rare cancer then.     

Created to look like a superhero costume, for Jason, the medical garments are all about enabling children to see themselves as the strong superheroes they idolise. “We want these kids to feel like, and be recognized as, the heroes that we see them as, “he tells.   

Now Jason has teamed up with Disney to launch a new Marvel Edition tee. And he’s got some very “super” friends helping him out! Actors Larson and Chris have lent their support, sharing special video messages for the kids who receive a new Supertee modelled after their costumes.

The collaboration with Disney is special for Jason. “I promised I would take her to Disneyland the moment we could leave the hospital, “ says Jason, a pledge they happily fulfilled.

Since June 2018, Jason and his team have delivered more than 13, 000 Supertees to sick children in hospitals around Australia, including Melbourne schoolboy Riley Sinclair, who was diagnosed with a serious disease at just seven years old.

For Riley’s mum Tammy, the Supertee was a game changer for her son, now 11, helping him feel less afraid and making hospital visits more comfortable. “When Riley puts his tee on, his whole personality will change and he feels like he can face anything. It’s amazing!” explains Tammy.

1. What is “Supertee”?

A．A customized shirt for sick kids.	B．A special hospital for kids.
C．A virtual armour for kids.	D．A super hero of kids.

2. What inspired Jason’s idea of “Supertee”?

A．His cooperation with Disney.

B．His chat with doctors in hospital.

C．His own experience of being hospitalized.

D．His caring for his daughter in hospital.

3. What does the underlined word “idolise” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Envy.

B．Adore.

C．Hate.

D．Create.

4. Why does the author mention Riley’s case?

A．To prove the Supertee’s role in a game.

B．To explain why the Supertee is so popular.

C．To indicate that the Supertee does work.

D．To reflect the Supertee’s medical effectiveness.

7 . The Space-Time Painter, written by Chinese writer Hai Ya, won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette recently. Hai became the third Chinese winner of the world’s top award for science fiction writing, following sci-fi writers Liu Cixin and Hao Jingfang.

The Space-Time Painter was inspired by a painting masterpiece, Qianli Jiangshan Tu by Wang Ximeng from the Song dynasty. Modeled on the life of Wang, Hai Ya has created the character of painting talent Zhao Ximeng. Zhao painted for an emperor more than 1,000 years ago.

After much pain and suffering, the painter’s mind abandons his physical body and enters a space. In the space, a modern police officer is investigating a case involving an ancient painting. The story exposes the social phenomenon of the period during which the painting was created.

Hai shared his source of inspiration for the award-winning book. “I watched a program named National Treasure and the detailed information of the painter of Qianli Jiangshan Tu was introduced. This interested me,” he said. He added that the painter was a gifted young man but was never seen again in history, which was an idea that could be explored with science-fiction. In this story, Hai did his best to balance the relationship among the plot, characters and history. He hoped to bring readers a mature work.

Hai, also a financial worker, thought himself more a sci-fi lover than a writer. “I write while doing my job, so I have very little time to write every day,” he said. “But I think as long as I love it and am willing to put effort into it, I will see hopes.”

1. How many Chinese writers have won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

2. What was the inspiration for Hai Ya’s The Space-Time Painter?

A．Qianli Jiangshan Tu.	B．Hai Ya’s sufferings.
C．A TV programme.	D．Zhao Ximeng’s experiences.

3. Which is the closest in meaning to “exposes” in paragraph 3?

A．Studies.

B．Uncovers.

C．Recalls.

D．Advertises.

4. What is Hai Ya’s attitude towards the science fiction writing?

A．Uninterested.

B．Disappointed.

C．Doubtful.

D．Positive.

8 . Christmas vacations: 3 of the best places to go

From Canada to the Philippines, these 3 places around the world offer some of the best holiday atmosphere for a Christmas-drenched vacation.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem offers a smaller-city Christmas escape. Bethlehem is proud of its Live Advent Calendar, which can be enjoyed starting at 5:30 p.m. from December 1 to 23.

It is a free, family-friendly event in which a town crier rings a bell up and down Main Street to call visitors to the Goundie House (the oldest house on Main Street). A child from the crowd is invited to come knock three times, and then a local business comes out with a surprise for everyone.

Quebec City, Canada

A perfect place for environmentally friendly, outdoor enthusiasts, Quebec is full of winter activities, offering holiday programs for different tastes.

Old Quebec is turned into a beautiful Christmas village. Sausage and roast chestnut lovers can browse the goods at the German Christmas market. Can’t make it for Christmas? There’s still the Quebec Winter Carnival from January 25 to February 11, 2024.

San Fernando, Philippines

If Asia were to have a Christmas capital, San Fernando in the heavily Roman Catholic Philippines would be a top nomination.

The city, is famous for its Giant Lantern Festival, which starts on December 12 and ends January 1. San Fernando’s lantern-making tradition dates back to the late 18th century.

The highlight of a visit here is a colorful, electric Christmas lantern that symbolizes the Star of San Fernando.

If you want to know more, please click here.

1. For Christmas celebration, what do Bethlehem and San Fernando have in common?

A．They offer Christmas markets.

B．They attract outdoor enthusiasts.

C．They are famous for the Lantern Festival.

D．They celebrate Christmas over half a month.

2. What is special about Quebec City during Christmas celebration?

A．It is family friendly.

B．It has the longest history.

C．It offers the Winter Carnival.

D．It suits different businessmen.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A website.

B．A magazine.

C．A news report.

D．A travel brochure.

9 . In Los Angeles, California, where temperatures tend to stay warm year-round, you can feel a significant difference in heat when you’re along the coast or outside the city compared to when you’re in highly-populated parts of the city. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, can make daytime temperatures in highly-populated areas 1^°F to 7^°F warmer than nearby areas. Los Angeles is working to settle this issue by applying a special paint on 1 million square feet of roads in the city.

The GAF Cool Community Project, an initiative by roofing company GAF, has painted roads, parking lots, and even playgrounds in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima with the solar-reflective paint. GAF partnered with local organizations, governments and scientists for the project.

“Pacoima is one of the hottest parts of Los Angeles and hasn’t gotten the kind of investment a lot of other communities have,” said Jeff Terry, who led the project. “Hopefully we’re going to make this place a little bit more livable for the residents.”

The paint uses Invisible Shade, a coating created by GAF-owned company, Street Bond. Invisible Shade has additives (添加剂) that reflect visible and infrared (红外线的) light to reduce heat. The coating is available in 14 colors or can be customized. While in most areas of Pacoima, the applied coatings are gray, the initiative partnered with a local artist to create unique patterns for some areas, like playgrounds, parking lots, and a basketball court.

“My feet do feel cooler. Yes! You can instantly feel the difference on the soles (脚底) of your feel,” said Melanie Torres, a Pacoima resident. “I think it’s great. Pacoima is one of the largest hot zones in LA so we were fortunate to be selected.”

The initiative will monitor the neighborhood temperatures over the next tow years to determine its effectiveness. If successful, more reflective coatings may be applied in other neighborhoods.

1. What does the underlined part “this issue” in Paragraph I refer to?

A．The polluted areas.	B．The intense urban heat.
C．The crowded urban areas.	D．The falling temperature.

2. How does the paint work?

A．By absorbing heat.	B．By creating shadows.
C．By mirroring light.	D．By changing road colors.

3. How does Torres find the paint?

A．It brings desired effects.	B．It is an adventurous idea.
C．It is a short-term solution.	D．It needs more testing time.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A theory on a new technology.	B．A project to improve citizens’ lives.
C．An art aiming to beautify cities.	D．A study on the urban heat island effect.