1 . Alibaba Cloud and the Hangzhou city government announced the launch of ET City Brain 2.0, a cloud-powered and AI-driven urban traffic-management system that aims to increase the city’s efficiency.
After over two years of testing in Alibaba’s home base, ET City Brain has become the new infrastructure (基础设施) for Hangzhou, with a total coverage of 420 square kilometers in area, including over 1,300 traffic lights. Over 200 traffic officers are connected via mobile phones, enabling them to receive real-time alerts on any traffic-related emergencies.
In version 2.0, the system will optimize the city’s firefighting abilities by providing key information to firefighters, such as water pressure, the number and position of fire hydrants (消防栓) in a given area, the location of gas pipes and other details they need to know. The information is instant, making the entire firefighting process faster, safer and more accurate.
City Brain gives meaning to data. By using AI and advanced algorithms (计算程序), City Brain is able to analyze a large amount of data and turn them into useful information in real-time speed.
As a result of City Brain’s ability to predict traffic flow, detect accidents and provide instant feedback, Hangzhou has dropped from 5th to the 57th on the list of China’s most congested cities. Hangzhou is probably the only city that can tell you how many cars are on the street at any given time.
In the case of medical emergencies, City Brain is able to change traffic lights, so emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks can head to the scene without interruption, accelerating their arrival time by 49%.
Dr. Wang Jian, head of Alibaba’s Technology Steering Committee who invented the term “City Brain”，said the system is designed to empower a city to act quickly and directly. It is more than just about traffic management. It’s really about how to make city more livable at a time of shrinking natural resources around the globe. “It is a matter of sustainability, while using as little natural resources as possible,” Wang said, “This is just the beginning.”
1. What benefit will ET City Brain bring?| A．Less traffic jam. |
| B．Lower crime rates. |
| C．Efficient government. |
| D．Improved medical care. |
| A．Predicting traffic flow. |
| B．Giving quick feedback. |
| C．Changing traffic lights. |
| D．Handling traffic accidents. |
| A．Practise. | B．Better. |
| C．Operate. | D．Emphasize. |
| A．ET City Brain 2.0 is a mature version. |
| B．Alibaba targets environment-friendly development. |
| C．The government is devoted to improving the system. |
| D．The system can solve the problem of lack of resources. |
2 . He is driving the response, literally, to the novel coronavirus(冠状病毒)outbreak. Volunteer driver Yin Zizhe has been
“It’s like a race against death. The patients are waiting for them,” says Yin of his responsibilities. He recalls one
For more than 20 days, Yin has
The 25-year-old is the
“Helping doctors and nurses means helping ourselves. In fact, it’s a battle involving everyone in the city,” says Yin. He considers his
“They are so
“I feel like if I
| A．accepting | B．transporting | C．picking | D．conducting |
| A．paused | B．delayed | C．continued | D．skipped |
| A．concern | B．decision | C．outbreak | D．environment |
| A．Speed | B．Examination | C．Disease | D．Step |
| A．analysis | B．knowledge | C．sports | D．temperature |
| A．business | B．aspect | C．occasion | D．citizen |
| A．watched | B．comforted | C．offered | D．drove |
| A．trying | B．performing | C．supporting | D．requiring |
| A．promised | B．obeyed | C．started | D．finished |
| A．late | B．early | C．perfect | D．difficult |
| A．dream of | B．approve of | C．hear of | D．consist of |
| A．oldest | B．smallest | C．strongest | D．youngest |
| A．role | B．career | C．reply | D．mercy |
| A．exhausted | B．wonderful | C．excited | D．sick |
| A．talk | B．interaction | C．operation | D．party |
| A．succeed | B．end | C．fail | D．prepare |
| A．Unless | B．Except | C．Despite | D．Without |
| A．mentally | B．approximately | C．fluently | D．urgently |
| A．harvest | B．purposes | C．hardship | D．information |
| A．study | B．lose | C．work | D．betray |
3 . Lighthouses are built on or near the shore to help guide ships away from danger. However, the threat of rising sea level has many people worried about the future of lighthouses worldwide.
The East Point Lighthouse in New Jersey has been lighting up the Delaware Bay for more than 200 years. But the waters that surround it may bring about its end. During storms, water hits a wall that is just nine meters from the front of the lighthouse. After each major storm, the wall around the lighthouse has to be rebuilt and 1, 300-kilogram sand bags and other methods are used to protect it. A simple fix would cost about 3 million dollars.
Rising sea levels have already forced the relocation of several lighthouses. In 1999, the National Park Service moved the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina, nearly 884 meters inland, which cost about 11. 8 million dollars. In 1993, the Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, which is still guiding ships, was moved more than 91 meters inland.
Tim Harrison is the editor of Lighthouse Digest, a publication (出版) based in the northern state of Maine. It has a list of 53 lighthouses around the United States that may be lost because of the effects of climate change. “Lighthouses were built for one purpose: to save lives. Some of America’s lighthouses continue to be used to guide ships and other boats. But a good number have been replaced by modern technology. Instead, the lighthouses are valued more for historical reasons.” Tim said. “Now it’s our turn to step up and save these lighthouses.”
But some lighthouses have already been lost. Both the Galveston Jetty Lighthouse in Texas and the Sabine Bank Lighthouse in Louisiana were lost to storms or rising seas. And the Kauhola Point Lighthouse on Hawaii’s Big Island was taken down after erosion nearby was so severe that it could not be saved. Other lighthouses that are considered to be in danger from rising seas include the Sand Island Lighthouse in Alabama and the New Point Comfort Lighthouse in Virginia.
1. Why is the East Point Lighthouse listed in paragraph 2?| A．To show the effect of mankind on lighthouses. |
| B．To show the problems lighthouses are facing. |
| C．To attract the readers’ attention to lighthouses. |
| D．To show the importance of protecting lighthouses. |
| A．The Galveston Jetty Lighthouse. | B．The Kauhola Point Lighthouse. |
| C．The Southeast Lighthouse. | D．The Sabine Bank Lighthouse. |
| A．Global warming changes everything. |
| B．Lighthouses are well worth protecting. |
| C．Most of the Lighthouses are being damaged. |
| D．Modern technology helps guide the ship better. |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By analyzing causes. |
| C．By giving explanations. | D．By listing examples. |
4 . Events
RAF Fly past
Tuesday, central London
raf. mod. uk
More than one hundred airplanes, from Spitfires to the Lightning, will be coming together. The amazing once-in-a-lifetime display is expected to pass over Buckingham Palace at around 1 pm.
Petfringe
Sunday, Petworth, West Sussex
petfringe. co. uk
Petworth, home of the 17th-century Grade I listed Petworth House, is the setting for-this definitely-not-animal-related festival, featuring everything from classical music to theatre and film screenings. Petfringe also hosts the final of its Comedian Of The Year competition, where the winner will take home £ 10, 001—the UK’s largest stand-up prize.
Fast Fringe
Monday, Underbelly Festival, Southbank, London
underbellyfestival. Com
Imagine going to the Edinburgh Fringe but don’t know who to see? This will help—it’s a showcase(展示)of 28 Scotland-bound acts each performing three-minute teasers of their sets. Acts include Lost Voice Guy, who has already been an overnight success thanks to his “Britain’s Got Talent”win.
Henley Festival
October 11-15, Henley-on-Thames
henleyfestival. co. uk
There’s much to enjoy here, whether you’re fond of comedy, the arts, or opera (歌剧). Black tie is a must, as is drinking Pimm’s.
As You Like It
October 28, Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London
openairtheatre. com
Bill Shakespeare’s comedy in the Forest of Arden is directed by Max Webster, and comes to Regent’s Park. It features new music too.
1. What do we know about Petfringe?| A．It is held on Monday. | B．It is a festival for animal lovers. |
| C．It sets up an award for comedians. | D．It hosts “Britain’s Got Talent” competition. |
| A．They are suitable for comedy fans. | B．They are planned by Max Webster. |
| C．They will take place on the same day. | D．They require visitors to wear black tie. |
| A．In a geography textbook. | B．In a guidebook |
| C．In a research paper. | D．In a commercial advertisement. |
1. What’s the result of the new study?
| A．An apple a day keeps the doctor away. |
| B．Cancer patients can be cured by taking aspirin. |
| C．Taking a small amount of aspirin can be good for health. |
| A．Aspirin can cause heart diseases. |
| B．Aspirin delays death of cancer patients. |
| C．Cancer patients can be cured by taking aspirin. |
| A．20 years. | B．40 years. | C．47 years. |
| A．It may increase the survival in cancer patients. |
| B．It can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases. |
| C．It’s good for people’s health and can cure heart diseases. |
| A．To practice her English. |
| B．To help her write something special. |
| C．To find a good partner to work with. |
Most of us think that the world’s oldest color is black or dark grey. However, scientists have discovered that bright pink is the oldest
Dr Gueneli said her first
8 . A child’s early years of language development are important for the basics of school readiness, such as literacy(读写) skills and social and emotional growth. In a recent study, University of Miami Assistant Professor of Psychology Lynn Perry and a team of fellow researchers who examined child speech communications over the course of a year found that children benefit from conversations with their peers(同龄人) and their teachers. The study examined how language use and development in 2- and 3-year-old children was influenced by what they heard from their teachers and their peers.
“Previous research on language development looked mostly at the role of parent-child communication within a home setting or a lab environment, which means we’re missing a big part of a child’s everyday life — the classroom, “said Perry.” We know that parent language is important for children’s development and their academic achievement, but we don’t have much research on what happens in the kindergarten or preschool setting.”
Using a device (设备) called a Language Environment Analysis (LENA) recorder, Perry collected hundreds of hours of audio recordings. Children wore the LENA recorder once a week. LENA software then assessed whether the recorded audio was speech or not, and whether the speech came from the child wearing the recorder or from an adult or another child talking to them.
After studying the audio data, Perry found that the speech children heard from other children was positively related to their own language use, meaning children who heard the most from their peers learn more new words and vocalize more during the course of the year. Additionally, there was a positive association between a teacher talking and children’s language use and development — but only when that teacher talked to the child in a back-and-forth conversation, rather than just talking to the child with no opportunity for the child to respond.
“One important aspect of the study that stands out to me is how important it was to see those conversational turns with teachers, and that back-and-forth conversation with the child is very beneficial. We talked to the teachers about the results, and they are very excited about this finding and currently brainstorming additional opportunities to have conversations with children,” adds Perry.
1. What does the new study focus on?| A．The basics of school readiness for preschool children. |
| B．The parent-child communication at home or in the lab. |
| C．The influence of conversations in the kindergarten on children. |
| D．The ways to improve preschool children’s healthy growth. |
| A．By observing the children in class. |
| B．By conducting a survey of teachers. |
| C．By communicating with the children. |
| D．By recording the children’s speech in class. |
| A．Listen. | B．Speak. | C．Read. | D．Write. |
| A．Repeatedly inspire children to speak more. |
| B．Encourage children to listen to their own speech. |
| C．Teach children to write more new words. |
| D．Teach children to read more books. |
9 . With innovative (创新的) ideas, 10 teams of student groups competed at UR’s Hult Prize competition on Nov. 3 to skip the selection process for the regional competition. “If you ever had a crazy idea, now it is time to explore it.” senior and Hult Prize competitor Sharfuz Shifat said. The Hult Prize is an international competition where undergraduate and graduate students alike compete to win a $ 1 million prize to start a company based on their ideas.
For many competitors, this competition is an outlet for innovative ideas that can speed up change in the world. “I believe in social entrepreneurship and the power of business to create social change,” said senior Shelly Chen from Team Boodana.
In addition to wanting to make a lasting social effect, some competitors have personal connections to their ideas and a strong motivation to bring them to reality. “We’re enthusiastic about this because it comes from our life,” sophomore Cherine Ghazouani and Team Forty-Two member said. “We’re trying to make our family’s, our country’s and our people’s lives better.”
After the event, the award ceremony announced the winner: the first and second runner-ups as Team BestBeing, Team Forty-Two and Team Boodana, respectively. Although the ruling ideas of the winners were mainly meant to provide jobs for unemployed youth, many of the proposed solutions also handled other problems in today’s society. Team Forty-Two worked on re-inventing the impractical tutoring system in Mediterranean countries;Team BestBeing aimed to provide a solution for the lack of availability of mental health services all over the world.
“Usually some of the most simple and practical solutions are the ones that are the most beautiful and effective,” judge Anna Schreyer said. “The challenge is being able to look at things in a completely new way that’s very simple. Try to step out of the box of how we do things and how we think about things.”
1. What is the purpose of the UR’s Hult Prize competition?| A．Not to let go of innovative ideas. |
| B．To award the most hardworking students. |
| C．Not to be crazy about changing the reality. |
| D．To stress the importance of regional competition. |
| A．A graduate degree. | B．A job in a company. |
| C．A position in UR’s Hult Prize. | D．A starting fund of a company. |
| A．The impractical tutoring system. | B．A solution to mental health. |
| C．Youth unemployment. | D．The way of innovative thinking. |
| A．Effective and old. | B．Simple and practical. |
| C．Long-lasting and simple. | D．Changeable and practical. |
10 . Unsolved Mysteries About the Earth
◆Mystery 1: Where did all the water come from?
Water covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface and earns it the nickname “the blue planet”. And where did it come from? The most popular scientific theory states that the H2O arrived in the form of several violent asteroids (小行星)filled with ice. Another suggests that the water actually has been around since the earth’s formation. However it happened, though, it’s certainly worked out well for the earth’s life forms.
◆Mystery 2: What about all the oxygen?
Another thing is the planet’s oxygen. Tiny creatures released oxygen as a waste product, filling the atmosphere with it. After that, the level of oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere went wildly up and down until it finally calmed down around 540 million years ago. Since then, it’s remained at about the breathable level we experience today. But what caused it to be suddenly steady?
◆Mystery3: What caused the Cambrian(寒武纪)Explosion?
The Cambrian Explosion refers to the explosion of complex life that occurred on the earth about 540 million years ago. Before then, life had consisted mostly of bacteria. But at the beginning of the Cambrian period, complex creatures began developing at a rate never before seen. Suddenly, advanced life forms had brains eyes and bones. Most creatures alive today can trace their blood back to the Cambrian period.
◆Mystery 4: Will we ever be able to predict earthquakes?
We still haven’t been able to come up with a way to accurately predict earthquakes, which is practically significant. We can certainly try, but our current technology cannot predict them exactly. We know that earthquakes start when rocks crack underground and send earthquake waves toward the surface, but we haven’t figured out why they happen, or how to predict them.
1. What was created later by tiny creatures on the earth?| A．Water. | B．Ice. | C．Bacteria. | D．Oxygen. |
| A．Mystery 1. | B．Mystery 2. |
| C．Mystery 3. | D．Mystery 4. |
| A．It is the oldest mystery of the four. |
| B．It is a matter that has practical significance. |
| C．It is the most difficult to solve of the four. |
| D．It has already been solved. |
