1 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Human memory is notoriously (众所周知地) unreliable. Even people with the sharpest facial recognition skills can only remember so much.

It’s tough to quantify how good a person is     1     remembering. No one really knows how many different faces someone can recall, for example, but various estimates tend to hover in the thousands – based on the number of acquaintances a person     2     have.

Machines aren’t limited this way. Give the right computer a massive database of faces, and it can process what it sees – then recognize a face it     3     (tell) to find – with remarkable speed and precision. This skill is     4     supports the enormous promise of facial-recognition software in the 21^st century. It is also what makes contemporary surveillance (监控) systems so scary.

The thing is, machines still have limitations when it comes to facial recognition. And scientists are only just beginning to understand what those constraints are.     5     (figure) out how computers are struggling, researchers at the University of Washington created a massive database of faces – they call it MegaFace – and     6     (test) a variety of facial-recognition algorithms(算法) as they scales up in complexity. The idea was to test the machines on a database that included up to 1 million different images of nearly 7,000 different people – and not just a large database     7     (feature) a relatively small number of different faces, more consistent with what’s been used in other research.

As the databases grew, machine accuracy dipped across the board. Algorithms     8     were right 95% of the time when they were dealing with a 13,000-image database, for example, were accurate about 70% of the time when     9     (face) with 1 million images. That’s still pretty good, says one of the researchers, Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman. “Much better than we expected,” she said,

Machines also had difficulty adjusting for people who look a lot alike –either doppelgangers (长相极相似的人), whom the machine would have trouble       10     (identify) as two separate people, or the same person who appeared in different photos at different ages or in different lighting, whom the machine would incorrectly view as separate people.

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Charles Dickens

It has been 150 years since Charles Dickens died, 184 years since his first work was released to the public and 156 years since his last completed book came out. In all of this time, these novels have never been out of print. Dickens may have left us, but his work remains timeless,     1     (fascinate) the majority of those who open their pages.

Most people have read, watched or at least heard of Dickens’ stories, but what makes him and his work so popular? Since he began novel writing in his 20s, Dickens constantly produced quality classics. Year after year his awaiting fans were not left     2     (disappoint) as their minds were fed with complex tales of romance, crime, hope and despair.

In the Victorian era he lived in, much of the work Dickens produced     3     (model) on the literature before him. He was one of the first writers of the time     4     (portray) honest examples of working-class people, giving many something to relate to. He focused on unfolding the good and bad qualities of characters which allowed his readers to follow their journeys and understand     5     they may have acted in the unusual or shocking ways that they did.

Any Dickens fans will know the diverse and outrageous (耸人听闻的) characters coming to life between the pages.     6     was special about this novelist’s ability in imagining these characters’ stories is that it comes from his own life’s path.     7     a young boy left to take care of himself in a workhouse to the wealthy figure he became through his writing successes, he knew what it was like to see in different lights. This deep understanding of his characters gave his fictional stories the strong element of believability     8     is needed in a good novel.

Over a century and a half later, Dickens’ themes can be relevant to today’s world problems. His words and imagery have been transformed further into the media of modern film, television and even musical adaptations.     9     set in a time unfamiliar to readers today, his work still enables everyone to relate to the love, hardship and sense of family that pours from the narratives. It is this aspect     10     has carried Charles Dickens into the 21st century.

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。

Natural early risers are less likely to develop mental health problems than night owls, according to scientists.

    1     (program) biologically to wake up early is linked to greater happiness and a lower risk of schizophrenia (精神分裂症) and depression. Evening types may be at greater risk     2     mainly early start times at work.

Prof Mike Weedon, of the University of Exeter, said, “    3     large number of people in our study means we have provided the strongest evidence to date     4     ‘night owls’ are at higher risk of mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and lower mental well-being,     5     farther studies are needed to understand this link.”

The study     6     (use) genetic data from 250^000 participants signing up to help the research and 450,000 people in the UK Biobank study Participants were asked whether they were “a morning person” or an “evening person”, and their genomes (基因组) were analysed,       7     (reveal) genes that people shared that appeared to influence sleep patterns.

The number of areas of the genome known to influence     8     someone is a riser has grown from 24 to 351. “This study highlights a large number of genes which can be studied in more detail to work out how different people can have different body clocks,” said Weedon.

The evidence suggested evening types were roughly 10% more likely to develop schizophrenia while morning people were also at lower risk of depression and reported     9     (be) happier in well-being questionnaires.

Samuel Jones, the paper’s lead author, said that the current hypothesis is that evening types have to work     10     their natural body clock in the world of work, which may have negative consequences. Another possibility is that the body-clock genes have a more direct influence on vulnerability to certain conditions.

4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Why modern music should quieten down

Quietness may be underestimated values in pop music.     1     (look) up “the loudest band in the world” and you will be confronted with a large number of rock giants from Manowar who proudly achieved a sound pressure level of 139 dB to Motor-head. The pickings are slim     2     we substitute “quiet” for “loud”.

In a way, increasing the volume of a song makes biological sense, something the music industry       3     (exploit) since the jukebox era. There is an organ in the inner ear called sacculus that in linked to a region of the brain     4     (associate) with pleasure and react to low-frequency vibrations over 90 dB.

On the other hand,     5     (focus) sorely on loudness ignores the infinitely more subtle appeal of being quiet. A French band called “Air”,     6     twenty-years collection was released on June 10, are masters of the art. As any teacher knows, quietness can be more effective than shouting to make people pay attention. Air employed this gentle persuasion on Moon Safari, an album that attracts the listener       7     the peaceful sound of rain and muted drums. Even when Air do increase the volume, the vocalist's voice remains one of     8     (gentle) noises in pop. Given its warmth and peacefulness, it is no coincidence     9     the album was a favourite among clubbers after a night out. It is a time when the desire for kindness, companionship and warmth prevails.

So forget the “loudness war”. Manowar     10     be happy with their 139 dB, but they are comprehensively defeated by fireworks, which reach 145 to 150 dB when they explode, and the call of the blue whale, which goes all the way up to 188 dB. Now that' something to shout about.

5 . 语法填空

The Million Pound Bank Note

It was the summer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, made a bet. Oliver believed that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London. His brother Roderick doubted it. At that moment, they saw a penniless young man    1     (wander) on the pavement outside their house. It was Henry Adams, a businessman,     2     was lost in London and did not know what he should do. The two brothers invited Henry in. They asked Henry some questions and they knew Henry was an American and it was the first time that he    3     (come) to London. As a matter of fact, Henry landed in Britain    4     accident. Back home Henry had his own boat. About a month before, he was sailing out of the bay. Then, towards nightfall Henry found himself    5     (carry) out to sea by a strong wind.

The next morning Henry had just about given himself    6     for lost    7     he was spotted by a ship. And it was the ship    8     brought Henry to England. In England, Henry earned his passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for his appearance.     9     (hear) Henry's story, the two brothers gave Henry a letter    10     (contain) a million pound bank note. Their bet began…

6 . Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word. For the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Imagine a drug that could enhance a child’s creativity and critical thinking. Imagine that this drug were simple to make, safe     1     ( take) and could be had for free.

The nation’s leading pediatricians (儿科医生) say this miracle compound exists. In a new clinical report, they are urging doctors to prescribe (开处方)    2     to the children in their care.

What is this wonder drug? Play.

“This may seem old-fashioned,     3     there are skills to be learned when kids are not told     4     to do,” said Dr. Michael Yogman, a Harvard Medical School pediatrician.     5     it is physical play, outdoor play, or social or pretend play, kids draw important lessons from the chance to make things up as they go along, he said.

The advice,     6     was issued in August by the American Academy of Pediatrics (美国儿科学会), may come as a shock to some parents. After they spend years     7     (worry) over which toys to buy, which apps to download and which skill-building programs to send their kids to after school, letting them simply play — or better yet, playing with them — may seem like a step backward.

The pediatricians insist that it is not. The academy does not include specific recommendations for the amount of play. Instead, it     8     (ask) doctors to advise parents before their babies turn two     9     play is essential to healthy development.

When parents engage in play with their children, it deepens relationships and offsets (抵消) the bad effects of all kinds of stress, including poverty, the academy says. In the pediatricians’ view, essentially every life skill     10     (value) in adults can be built up with play.