1 . On Monday, I walked into a conference center and, instead of flashing a card with my name and photo, I positioned myself in front of a head-height camera the size of my fist. Seconds later, the screen read: “PLEASEENTER.” No one scanned the digital pass on my phone. Facial-recognition software did all the work.
As facial recognition appear in more public places including airports and concert places, you might be wondering how you’re supposed to feel about it.
Companies providing face matching software often tout (鼓吹) speed, convenience, security and contactless benefits for customers. Most also stress that it’s only a choice. While the answer comes down to the individual, you should ask yourself: Do you want this firm to store your biometric (生物统计的) information? Are you getting something useful in return?
Facial recognition works by creating a map of your face. The map contains your unique measurements — the distance between your forehead and chin, or between your eyes. They are then changed into code called a face print. However, a company that stores your face data could have an entirely different purpose than what you agreed to. Besides, you can’t always track where your face ends up: one company sold facial-recognition tech based on billions of images collected from Facebook, LinkedIn and other sources.
Before agreeing to the use of biometric data, Josef Kittler, a professor of machine intelligence at the University of Surrey in the U. K., recommends finding out three things: the purpose of collecting your data, what happens to your face image once you no longer need the service, and how the data is removed.
Face scanning will become more popular in our travels and entertainment, as well as other areas such as education and banking. We’ve just begun to understand the advantages and disadvantages.
1. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the first paragraph?A.To tell the development of facial recognition. |
B.To show the convenience of facial recognition. |
C.To describe the author’s daily routine in the office. |
D.To introduce the change of the author’s working style. |
A.By collecting a person’s fingerprint. | B.By scanning the eyes of an individual. |
C.By making a digital copy of a person’s face. | D.By analyzing the voice patterns of an individual. |
A.It may cause data misuse. | B.It has a limited database. |
C.It lacked relevant service. | D.It is not convenient enough. |
A.Face scanning will be improved in the future. | B.We only use face scanning for entertainment. |
C.Face scanning is already common in all areas. | D.We are still in the early stage of face scanning. |
2 . With iconic landmarks (地标) and architectural marvels, Seattle is one of the best places to visit in the Pacific Northwest. The following best-selling tours will make your trip a trip to remember.
Sightseeing Bus Tour☆3.6 (647 reviews)
This tour will give you the chance to see the highlights of Seattle at your own pace. With a one-day or two-day ticket, you can hop on and hop off the open-top double-decker bus at any stop and listen to an audio guide throughout the journey.
Chef Guided Food Tour☆4.9 Exceptional (902 reviews)
This chef-guided food tour will take you to explore Seattle’s food culture in two hours. You will start with a bite of yogurt featuring local dairy. Next, you stop by for a quick snack of dried apples and cherries, followed by tasting a cup of award-winning thick soup. You will also learn where the chefs get their produce from, and see the production of cheese on-site.
Harbour Cruise Tour☆4.7 Exceptional (730 reviews)
Starting from Seattle’s central waterfront, this one-hour Seattle harbour cruise will take you along the shoreline, enjoying views of the Seattle skyline. You’ll view the Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Aquarium, Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park from the boat. Additionally, you’ll see the Olympic Mountain range and a 14,410-feet-tall volcano, located 60 miles southeast of Seattle.
Underground History Tour☆4.6 Fabulous (1224 reviews)
This two-hour, small-group tour will take you into the attractive world beneath Seattle’s streets. You’ll travel along the underground pathways constructed over a century ago and learn interesting details about Seattle’s early history from your knowledgeable guide.
1. Which tour is the best choice if you are a foodie?A.Underground History Tour. | B.Chef Guided Food Tour. |
C.Harbour Cruise Tour. | D.Sightseeing Bus Tour. |
A.Admire various landmarks. | B.Go on a hike. |
C.Learn Seattle’s history. | D.Listen to an audio guide |
A.A blog post. | B.A travel journal. |
C.A tour advertisement. | D.A news report. |
3 . Eating out seems to have been as popular 5, 000 years ago as it is today, with archaeologists in Iraq uncovering an ancient tavern dating back to 2,700 BC. Researchers working in the ancient city of Lagash discovered the pub. It was hidden just 19 inches below the surface, which was split into (分成) an open-air dining area and a room with benches, an oven, ancient food and even a 5,000-year-old “fridge”.
They first found themselves in the open courtyard space, an area that was difficult to dig, being “open and exposed to the outdoors,” according to Reed Goodman, an archaeologist from the University of Pennsylvania. After returning to the ancient courtyard a few months later, field director Sara Pizzi from the University of Pisa, widened the trench (沟渠) instead of digging straight down in one spot.
The team discovered the industrial-sized oven, an ancient “fridge” to keep food cool, and dozens of bowls, many containing fish, showing the purpose of the courtyard to be an outdoor dining area.
Previous diggings focused on religious architecture and understanding the elites (上层人士) , but Holly Pittman, director of the Lagash Archaeological Project, concentrated on non-elite areas during these latest diggings to make people have a broader understanding of ancient cities. “Uncovering the pub supports the opinion of Pittman and her team that society was not organized into just elites but included ordinary people, ” Goodman said.
The discovery provides evidence into how people lived in this ancient city-state. It shows that even thousands of years ago, people enjoyed gathering in public places to socialize and enjoy food and drink.
1. What does the underlined word “tavern” in paragraph 1 refer to?A.Pub. | B.City. | C.Bench. | D.Container. |
A.By digging straight down in one spot. |
B.By broadening the trench in the courtyard. |
C.By making a hole in the middle of the outdoor space. |
D.By splitting the open-air dining area into different parts. |
A.It discovers the earliest settlers in Lagash. | B.It shows the social activities of the elites. |
C.It reflects the life of the ancient ordinary people. | D.It focuses on studying religious architecture. |
A.To share a travel experience. | B.To analyze a historical event. |
C.To show the wisdom of ancient people. | D.To introduce an archaeological discovery. |
4 . The Great Smoky Mountain area is one of the most gorgeous vacation destinations in the USA. It would be no surprise if guests here book one of the amazing hotels.
Black Fox Hotel
Rooms at this lovely hotel come equipped with great amenities (便利设施) and feature s to make your stay as stress free as possible. Take a relaxing dip in the indoor swimming pool before heading back to your room. Guests will also enjoy taking advantage of the on-site restaurant and the fitness center.
Smoky Getaways Hotels
Smoky Getaways Hotels offer free parking, microwaves and fridges in all guest rooms! Each room comes equipped with a full kitchen and a grill — plus, they are pet friendly! Smoky Getaways Hotels are located close to Dollywood Amusement Park, so it is perfect for a family getaway.
The Resort at Governor’s Crossing
Here guests can enjoy a wide variety of exciting water park rides in both indoor and outdoor parks. From water basketball and water slides to a hot tub and a lazy river, utmost recreation and fun await at the indoor and outdoor pools, making it perfect for a family vacation.
Quality Inn Creekside
This hotel is sure to add comfort and convenience to your amazing trip. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun outdoor pool as well as amenities such as a mini-bar, a fitness center, and bicycles to rent. It is close to some amazing shopping centers and restaurants as well.
Browse through all of the hotels and the perfect one is just a click away!
1. Which hotel best suits pet lovers?A.Black Fox Hotel. | B.Smoky Getaways Hotels. |
C.Quality Inn Creekside. | D.The Resort at Governor’s Crossing. |
A.Both have restaurants within the hotels. |
B.Both are close to the downtown shopping center. |
C.People can work out in the fitness center of the hotel. |
D.People can have easy access to swimming pool in the open air. |
A.In a travel brochure. | B.In a magazine. | C.On a newspaper. | D.On a website. |
My grandpa lived at the top of a mountain all by himself. This was my first time to stay with him. I was curious about everything around. Sometimes I went into the woods and pretended that I was Alex the Adventurer. I must stay near and I couldn’t go past the big rock alone. This way, Grandpa could always see me from the yard.
One morning, I raced up the path back to Grandpa’s yard as fast as I could. “Grandpa, I hear something strange in your woods!” I told him. He saw the excitement and fear in my eyes. “Let’s go to find out what it is.” He took my hand with his big and warm one. As we hiked toward the big rock, I held Grandpa’s hand tighter. I could feel my palms becoming sweaty.
Cack-cack-cack (呱呱呱)! There was that sound! I grabbed Grandpa’s leg. “What is that, Grandpa?” I whispered. “It’s the first sign of spring,” he said. “How about you going past the big rock a bit. See if you can find out what it is.” “By myself?” I hesitated, unsure of what to do next. “I promise it’s safe,” he gently encouraged me. “And I’ll stay here by the big rock where you can see me.”
“No.” I looked at Grandpa. His whole face seemed to be smiling, even his eyes. I wondered what an adventurer would do. I stood up straighter and made a brave face. “Grandpa,” I said, “I think I can do it.”
Crunch! Crunch! My feet stepped on the dead leaves as I got closer. Suddenly there was silence. I stopped and looked back. My face must not look so brave, because Grandpa said, “It’s all right, Alex. Just a little further.”
注意:1.所续写短文的词数应为 100左右;
2.续写部分为一段,请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I stood up straighter and took a big step forward.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.节日介绍;
2.喜欢的理由。
注意:
1. 词数80左右;
2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
My Favorite Chinese Festival
My favorite Chinese festival is
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A popular movie or TV drama has the power to make a city famous
Shanghai, often
8 . Though it’s been around for roughly 5,000 years, yoga is more popular today than ever. The fact that you can practice it just about anywhere is a big reason why.
Westerners adopted yoga as a form of exercise, but at its roots, yoga is a way of life. As recorded in the Yoga Sutras, yoga is based on the idea that the mind, body and spirit are all one. The breath is said to carry a person’s life force.
In addition to reducing stress, yoga can improve posture and balance, strengthen bones and muscles,and keep your joints healthy.
A.Today, yoga is big business. |
B.Different poses offer different benefits. |
C.You have access to yoga whenever you like. |
D.About 55 million Americans regularly hit the mat. |
E.It is a gentle stretch that helps you rest and refocus. |
F.Close your eyes, relax your body and take a deep breath. |
G.Also, many experts believe that controlling the breath refreshes the body. |
9 . The number of states requiring high schoolers to learn about personal money matters continued to increase in 2021, and another —Florida—is ready to join the group shortly. In Florida, the Legislature has passed a law requiring students to take a full term course in personal finance (金融) before graduating.
Financial concerns grew during the pandemic, and rising inflation (通货膨胀) is tightening household budgets. Those factors, combined with worries about burdensome student debt levels, have created a stronger reason for making personal money skills a must for high schoolers.
“The need has never been greater,” said Annamaria Lusardi, the founder and academic director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University. “We owe it to this young generation to be well prepared for the future.”
Financial literacy (金融素养) — a working grasp of concepts like saving, credit, interest rates, investing and risk assessment — is generally low among American adults, especially younger adults. Two-thirds of Generation Z adults, for example, couldn’t correctly answer more than half the financial questions in the center’s survey, which compared financial literacy across five generations.
“The pandemic has shown a great need for the average Americans to have these skills,” said Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance.
State-level surveys conducted for Next Gen have found strong support for high school personal finance requirements, Mr. Ranzetta said, and dozens of proposals are awaiting action in state legislatures. It’s uncertain how many will become laws, but a requirement in a large state like Florida, he said, may help promote other states’ efforts.
While the progress among states is encouraging, there is more to do. Currently, just nine of the 23 states require personal finance to be taken as a stand-alone course. Others permit the subject to be combined with other classes, like math or social studies, or provide other ways for students to quit the course.
1. Which is NOT the reason for requiring students to take a course in personal finance?A.The impact of the pandemic. | B.The tight household budgets. |
C.An increase in financial cases. | D.Concerns about student debt levels. |
A.Dozens of proposals are sure to become laws. |
B.Florida’s new law may encourage other states’ efforts. |
C.Personal finance is not necessary for the average Americans. |
D.The young generation have been well prepared in personal finance. |
A.Positive. | B.Objective. | C.Indifferent. | D.Doubtful. |
A.A New Course in Personal Finance |
B.A Great Need for Financial Literacy |
C.High Schoolers’ Growing Financial Concerns |
D.High Schools’ Requirements for Personal Finance |
10 . Harbin has witnessed a significant boom that has caused it to trend on social media this winter. By December 20, 2023, the city airport’s annual passenger throughput had gone beyond 20 million. According to a new report, during the three-day New Year holiday, Harbin received 3.05 million tourists and made income of 5.91 billion yuan, both of which reached record highs.
Harbin, also known as China’s “ice city”, is famous for its ice and snow culture. For over 60 years, the city has had a tradition of holding an annual ice lantern exhibition, presenting the creativity and skill of its artists. Recently, the Ice and Snow World, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest ice and snow park, is just one of many attractions in the city. It features amazing ice and snow sculptures, including replicas (复制品) of famous landmarks, animals, and cartoon characters. In addition, visitors can also enjoy different kinds of snow sports, such as ice skating, ice fishing, and sledding.
Harbin spared no effort to show its sincerity and hospitality to tourists. At the Ice and Snow World, a lot of new experiences have been provided, such as hovercrafts and bicycles on ice, Ferris wheels, and hot air balloons. Tourists were welcomed with live performances at the airport, and dressing rooms were set up for them to change into warm clothing. Local residents supported by traveling during off-peak hours to reduce traffic and offering tourists free rides. For those unable to book hotels, the government opened the Provincial People’s Congress Service Center for low-cost stays.
“For individual travelers, a city’s infrastructure (基础设施) and public services form the foundation of tourism competitiveness. It is only when tourists feel the warmth of the city and the goodwill of its citizens that they fit into the lives of a travel destination nicely,” said Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy.
1. The figures in paragraph 1 show that __________.A.The growth in Harbin’s tourism industry. |
B.The popularity of Harbin’s new attractions. |
C.People’s interest in traveling in icy places. |
D.People’s great passion for the New Year holiday. |
A.It is famous for its annual ice lantern exhibition. |
B.It is the first ice and snow park in the world. |
C.It offers various snow-related activities for visitors. |
D.It holds various snow sports competitions for visitors. |
A.New equipment added in the Ice and Snow World. |
B.The measures to ensure tourists’ safety in Harbin. |
C.Local people’s support for relieving traffic pressure. |
D.The efforts to improve tourists’ travel experiences. |
A.A diary of cultural tours. |
B.A news report on tourism. |
C.An advertisement for scenic spots. |
D.A review of newly emerging cities. |