1 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s)of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Fluido, a Texas-based analytics company, recently released its new product, called FluidoPlus for free. It connects retailers (零售商) to a cloud-based analytics service using WiFi. They then collect information about customers behaviour by monitoring the media access code (MAC) in every smart phone that enters the stores. This means that stores will be able to implement an analytics package to receive information that could help guide their marketing. With the information , store managers can measure the number of people who walk past the store and the number who come through the front door. Also, this information includes whether or not these people come in immediately or are convinced to do so by the shop front.
Fluido Plus has received a lot of criticism from consumers concerned about their privacy being invaded. But Fluido assures that the MAC data is scrambled, which means that no personally identifiable information is collected. The company also points to the fact that Fluido is a part of the group that initiated the Mobile Location Analytics code of conduct. These sets of rules require companies to receive customers’ agreement before they can collect any personal information.
Emily Carrless, a senior director at the NO Watching Please Co., believes that this technology ignores customers’ privacy. “This is a clear example of profit outweighing privacy, she said. “The use of tracking technology by shops in order to provide a better or more personal service seems totally disproportionate,” Carrless also stressed the importance of customer awareness. She said that while tracking technology was still developing, there was an obvious goal in mind to identify individuals. Companies like Fluido won’t stop at the general information like the number of customers who walk into stores. The long game is about identifying individuals, and this technologies is very close to enabling Fluido to do that.
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Neuroscientists usually define a singular memory as an engram — a physical change in brain tissue associated with a particular recollection. Recently, brain scans revealed that an engram isn’t isolated to one region of the brain and instead manifests as a colorful splattering across the neural tissue. “A memory looks more like a web in the brain than a single spot,” says neuroseientist and National Geographic Explorer Steve Ramirez of Boston University. That’s because when a memory is created, it includes all the visual, auditory, and tactile inputs that make an experience memorable , and brain cells are encoded from all of those regions.
Now, scientists are even able to track how memories move across the brain, like detectives finding footprints in the snow. While at MIT in 2013, Ramirez and his research partner Xu Liu had a breakthrough: They were able to target the cells that make up one engram in a mouse’s brain and then implant a false memory.
In their work, mice reacted in fear to a particular stimulus even when they had not been conditioned in advance. While mouse brains are less advanced than the human equivalent, Ramirez says they can still help neuroscientists understand how our memories work , too.
In their current work, Ramirez and his colleagues are investigating whether positive and negative memories are stored in different groups of brain cells, and whether negative memories can be overwritten by positive ones. To prep mice for the experiments, the team injects the animals’ brains with a virus that contains fluorescent proteins and surgically implants optic fibers. The mice are then given a diet that prevents the virus from fluorescing until the researchers are ready to tag a positive or negative experience. Positive memories are created by putting male mice in cages with female mice for an hour, and negative memories are created by putting the mice in cages that deliver brief foot shocks. Once the mice have been conditioned to associate certain triggers with each experience, they undergo a short surgical operation so the scientists can stimulate the cells associated with the positive or negative engrams.
They are finding that activating positive memories while a mouse is in a cage it associates with fear makes that mouse less fearful. Using a different technique, University of Toronto neuroscientist Sheena Josselyn was able to completely eliminate fear memories in mice.
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3 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point (s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Is there a correlation between high IQ and creative genius? Really , the phrasing of the question contradicts very much correlation, as “creativity” is in no way measured through IQ standardized testing, and creativity is the greatest determinant of a genius as, like you say , it is a genius. Innovation upon any subject requires a drive to create.
As ones IQ increases, there is an increased probability that they are a genius because their level of creativity has a higher probability of ascending (升高) them to genius level. However if the odds are against them, there is an average probability that they are a genius since they are average percent genius. This is because genius and IQ are composed of different mental constructs as IQ measures a standard comprehension level, while creativity measures the way in which this comprehension is used. For example , if your IQ is 180, the percentage that you are a genius is subtracted by the amount of creativity necessary to become a genius. This is inductive of the influence that the brain has on awareness. The brain gains perceptive awareness upon “creating thoughts in a continuous cyclic process, and if you were very “intelligent” but could not generate thoughts, you could not be an intellectual being. However, one who is alive can never stop thinking, so the correlation of IQ and genius would objectively appear as a negative exponential function.
There are few exceptionally creative people out there, just as there are few exceptionally intelligent people, and one does not occur with the other. Possessing a high level of intelligence is a platform of understanding for the creative thinking skills to make up originality. When one bears informal thinking skills, they typically occupy heightened intuitive awareness, and vivid imaginative qualities. Critical thinking skills allow one to make sense of the resultant creative output within its surrounding context of knowledge.
However, not all “geniuses” from our subjective intelligence range necessarily have high levels of creativity. One's level of intelligence can be so high that their platform of understanding generalizes ideas where a genius with lower levels of intelligence must use creativity in order to attain a sort of qualitative equivalence. Examples of people like this throughout history include the likes of John von Neumann and Christopher Langan.
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In a small community located at a suburb of Exeter, a disheartening issue had been troubling the neighborhood for years. The once pleasant surroundings were ruined by piles of waste that seemed to multiply with each passing day. Residents were growing tired of the worsening environment, leading many to abandon their homes in search of cleaner neighborhoods. It was in this terrible situation that two young students, Emma and Mia, decided to take matters into their own hands.
Emma and Mia were classmates and best friends from Phillips Exeter Academy, both passionate about environmental preservation and deeply concerned about the pollution crisis their community was facing. Witnessing more and more neighbors’ leaving, they knew they couldn’t stand by any longer. Determined to bring about a change, they undertook a mission that would soon catch the attention of the entire community.
Their journey began with thorough research and planning. The two girls searched carefully on the Internet for information on environmental initiatives and connected with local environmentalists. They organized meetings with residents to understand the issues at hand, collecting data on the types of waste, the sources, and the areas most affected. Armed with this knowledge, Emma and Mia worked out a comprehensive plan and announced it to ask for opinions from the residents. Surprisingly it was strongly supported.
Their strategy was twofold. First, they initiated a waste classification and recycling program. They distributed recycling bins(回收箱) to every household and educated the community about the importance of responsible waste management. Soon, the streets began to show signs of improvement as the volume of garbage inappropriately thrown away decreased gradually.
The second part of their plan was more ambitious. Emma and Mia gathered volunteers from their school and the neighborhood to take part in a massive clean-up campaign. Armed with gloves and trash(垃圾)bags, they began systematically clearing the waste from the streets, parks, and even the local bodies of water. Their firm commitment and hard work inspired others to join the cause.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Half a year later, the changes were significant.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Emma and Mia received recognition and honors for their work.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One sunny afternoon, I was playing in the backyard when I noticed a beautiful shiny piece of paper lying on the table. It was leftover aluminum foil (锡纸) from a package my mum had opened. I picked it up and was immediately attracted by its sparkling appearance. Curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but ask my dad about it.
“Dad, what is this paper called? It’s so shiny and beautiful!” I inquired, holding the aluminum foil up for him to see.
My dad chuckled and replied, “That’s. called aluminum foil, and it has many uses.”
Naturally, my curiosity was piqued (激发), and I eagerly asked, “What can it be used for?”
My dad smiled and said, “Why don’t you research it yourself? It’ll be a great opportunity for you to learn something new. ”
With a sense of excitement, I grabbed my phone and started researching on the Internet. I found out that it is a type of metal paper called aluminum foil, which is moisture-proof(防潮的). As I looked through the information, an idea popped into my head. What if I put some water in a small aluminum foil container and heated it in the microwave? Would the water boil?
Unable to resist the urge to experiment, I cut a piece of aluminum foil and folded it into a small square container. I added some water into the container and placed it in the microwave. With my eyes wide open, I anxiously watched the aluminum foil container, filled with anticipation. But before I could see any changes in the water, suddenly a burst of fire erupted from the microwave, surprising me. I quickly rushed to unplug the appliance and collapsed onto the floor, feeling a great fear.
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。
My dad, hearing the sound, hurried over and asked, “What happened? ”
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My dad’s comforting words sank in, and I made a promise to myself to become more careful in my life.
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A lesson from my sister
My elder sister was different. She was socially awkward. She could not look at people in the eye. She would mumble (嘟哝) to herself and repeat the words she had just said. The child psychologist had termed it as “Asperger Syndrome”.
She, however, was academically capable. Therefore, we attended the same primary school. Despite this, I never, ever admitted in public that she was my sister. There was one incident, however, that changed how I viewed my sister. It was the incident that changed me.
Being in primary six, about to graduate, the school had made it a must for everyone to perform. Due to my sister’s inability to work together with others, she had to do it individually.
“I’ll sing,” my sister told my parents confidently. Hearing that, I was completely shocked. How could my sister, who was socially awkward, sing in front of the school? I knew so well that if this happened, she would surely embarrass me.
Silently I prayed I would not have to watch my sister disgrace herself. It is fine. No one knows she is your sister. I remember telling myself these exact lines as I sat in the hall, waiting for the performances to start.
The lights dimmed and the curtains parted to reveal the only solo — my sister. It took about a whole minute for her to speak out her name and class and by that time, whispers were heard in the audience. “Why is she taking so long?” People around me asked. I sat nervously in my seat, wishing I were somewhere else.
注意：1. 所续写短文的总词数应为120左右;
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1
Finally my sister started to sing.
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Guilt (内疚) and shame filled my heart as I listened to my sister’s wonderful singing.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With my youngest, 11, it’s Tik Tok and FaceTime with her friends. With my middle one, 14, it’s SnapChat with his classmates. And with my eldest, 18, it’s Tinder with, well, God only knows.
What I do know, is that my kids’ reliance on their mobile phones is becoming pathological (病态的). They all wander around the house with smart phones permanently in their hands.
They walk in and out of the toilet staring at the screen, they come down to dinner staring at the screen and only put it down because they can’t feed themselves using the screen. God knows what their screen time weekly report notifications would read.
However, one house rule that I managed to enforce was that they weren’t allowed their phones in their rooms overnight and there was a bed time phone amnesty (赦免) in place where they would all, very reluctantly, hand over their device for overnight charging.
Now, I must confess that, occasionally, I “forgot” to charge one of the phones, so that at least I would get one of them to be a little more present the following morning at breakfast and I might hear something about their upcoming day, rather than being completely ignored.
I never forgot to charge the same phone twice in one week and so no one seemed to get wise to my tricks, however this emboldened me to take my cheating to new levels.
Any phone left unguarded would be quickly kidnapped and whisked away to an undisclosed location, only to mysteriously reappear when I deemed that its owner had engaged with the real world for a sufficient amount of time.
Then one night in February, it happened. A big storm hit our rural village and we had a power cut. “Dad!” They screamed, ignorant of the sudden lack of light and heat and only concerned with the sudden lack of Wi-Fi. It began to dawn on them that they were faced with the living hell of being off line and off their phones for an amount of time.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；2．请按如下格式作答。What followed was a peaceful period without the addiction to their phones.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________And so I tried it a few weekends later to see what the reaction might be.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was a broke university student. I should have been going to university on a scholarship because I came from a low-income family, but a last-minute £100-a-year pay rise for my mum pushed my family over the threshold (门槛) for what defined “low-income” and I was suddenly no longer qualified for £15,000 a year in scholarship money. This news came after I’d been accepted by the university and signed the lease (租约) for my accommodation.
Despite my family not being labelled low-income anymore, I still wouldn’t receive any financial support from my family as all the income went toward taking care of my disabled brother and paying their own bills. It would be tight, but because I had savings from my part-time job, I decided to go to university anyway. After paying my rent, I had £10.20 a week for everything else including food, toiletries, and school supplies.
As I was in a new city, I really wanted to make friends, which was difficult when most of the social activities were expensive. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to do a relatively cheap coffee shop trip with my roommates who were pleasant to me.
I had £20 with me to get a cheap cup of coffee and my food shopping for a few weeks. So I headed for the coffee shop. While paying, I pulled out the note and a handful of change and realized I could pay without breaking the note, so I put it back in my pocket. It wasn’t until I arrived at the supermarket that I realized the note was gone. What should I do? I was desperate it was the equivalent (相等物) of two weeks of money. My roommates helped me look for the note. However, it was in vain. Finally, I went to school empty-handed.
注意：
(1) 续写词数应为150词左右；
(2) 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
P1: As a final attempt, I messaged the coffee shop’s Facebook page asking if they’d seen it.
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P2: I said, “Oh, ...This isn’t mine; my note was an old worn one.”
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The Gratitude Jar(感恩)
Emily, a young woman with a golden hair, lived in a small, busy town. She was in her early thirties and was unfortunate. She was known for her negative feelings and pessimistic characters. When facing life’s challenges, she always thought the God never blessed her and felt a sense of desperation, which made the people around sad as well.
One day, Emily met with an old, dust y jar in the corner of an antique shop. Curious, she picked it up and noticed a small label that read, “The Gratitude Jar. ”The shopkeeper explained that the jar was meant for collecting moments of gratitude—tiny notes that illustrated the essence of thankfulness.
Excited by the idea, Emily decided to start a journey of gratitude. She placed the jar on the shelf near her desk. Each day, before the sun dipped below the horizon (地平线), she would si t down with her Gratitude Jar and reflect on the blessings of the day. From the warmth of the morning sun to the laughter of children playing in the park, Emily found joy in the simple things.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Emily’s jar began to fill with an amount of gratitude: She was amazed by how her attitude to life had shifted. Instead of dwelling on(强调)what she lacked, Emily focused on the richness of what she had—the love of family, the support of friends, and the beauty of the world around her.
Gradually, Emily became a sunny and positive person who loved life and was grateful to others.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One cold autumn evening, Emily was told she lost her job.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Emily’s positive attitude to life helped her get a new job.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mark was a 11-year-old boy. One day he was selling magazines for his school fees, walking up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and shabby and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did come out, he would not say hello to his neighbors or passers-by but simply just glared at(怒视) them. It was said that the old man’s name was Henry.
Mark knocked on the door and waited, sweating due to fear of the old man. Mark’s parents told him to stay away from the house, and a lot of other neighborhood children were told the same thing by their parents.
Dusk found Mark wandering and hesitating(犹豫) what to do. As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened: “Why are you standing here?” the old man Henry said impatiently. Mark was very afraid but he had to sell a certain number of magazines for his school fees... So he got up the courage and said, “Uh, sir, I am selling these magazines and, uh, I was wondering if you would like to buy one from me.”
Henry just stared at Mark without saying a word. Mark could see that Henry had dog figurines(小雕像) on the shelves inside his house. “Do you collect dog figurines?” Mark asked. “Yes, I have many collections in my house. They are my family here and they are all I have.” Mark then felt sorry for Henry, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul.
“Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors. It is perfect for you. I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much.” Henry was ready to close the door on the boy and said, “No, boy. I don’t need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye.”
Mark was sad that he was not going to achieve his goal of selling a certain number of magazines. He was also sad for the old man being so alone in the house that he owned. Mark went home and then had an idea. He had a little dog figurine that he had got some years before from an aunt. The figurine did not mean so much to him since he had a real living dog and a large family.
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。
Mark held the dog figurine and ran out of his house.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mark’s contact and communication with Henry made a difference to Henry’s life and character.
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