1 . Professor Dallas Smythe first described commercial media as a system for delivering audiences to advertisers. This perception of the viewing public as a “market” for products as well as an audience for advertising reflects the economic preference of the current media system in America. The unplanned side effects of advertising, however, concern many critics (评论家).

Dinar Godrej holds the view that advertising creates an attack on our senses, that advertising can act as a “compulsive liar”, and that the disorder advertising creates attacks us with images and ideas that result in a cultural change that creates desires for goods that only the wealthy can actually get. This author takes the point of view that there is really nothing positive that advertising contributes to a society, and that just about everything about advertising is negative.

John Calfee addresses many of these issues but also focuses on how the information in ads benefits consumers. He takes the position that advertising functions in the public’s interest, and that even the argument about ads can be beneficial because they can result in competitive pricing for consumers. He also states that individuals can learn about important issues (such as health) through ads.

There are also more neutral (中立的) views, such as those held by people who see it as an economic engine to deliver “free” programs to people, or the idea that advertising is an art form in itself. Whatever the perspective, one thing is true: Advertising can have both obvious and potential (潜在的) impact. It can be defended on solid ground and criticized on solid ground.

1. Why does Dinar Godrej think advertising can be a “compulsive liar”?

A．It creates disorder in our body.	B．It is full of images and ideas.
C．It changes our feelings for goods.	D．It creates goods for the wealthy.

2. What are the benefits of advertising according to John Calfee?

A．It helps control prices.	B．It decreases public’s interest.
C．It avoids arguments.	D．It is good for people’s health.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Few people hold neutral views on advertising.

B．We can not see all the impact of advertising.

C．Advertising encourages us to learn about art.

D．Advertising is seldom criticized by people.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward advertising?

A．Positive.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Subjective.

2 . 学生们能够获得更多的阅读材料，这对他们的语言学习有益处。(access，非限定性定语从句)(汉译英)
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3 . In May 2019, a friend who had previously been involved in the Restless Development Sierra Leone Business Brains project encouraged me to apply for the “Saving Lives II” project. Seeing this as an opportunity to move closer to my ambition of working in the medical field in the near future, I eagerly seized the chance. Fortunately, my performance during the interview led to me being awarded the role.

Following the basic training, I was sent to volunteer in Kurubonla, a remote community located in the northem region of Sierra Leone. This assignment presented challenges such as limited road access and communication networks. At first, I felt concerned about being sent there, but with a determined mindset, I set out on the journey, driven by a passion to contribute to my country’s development and to push my personal boundaries.

As I got to know the community, I quickly realized that the challenges extended beyond language barriers and cultural differences; there was also a sense of isolation from my peers. However, I refused to allow these challenges to stop me. I threw myself in my duties, working together with local leaders and community members to identify the most pressing needs. Together, we carried out the projects aimed at improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure (基础设施). Additionally, I organized workshops and training courses to share my knowledge and skills with the locals.

Over time, I witnessed the positive impact of our collective efforts. Healthcare facilities improved, the number of students in schools increased, and the overall quality of life in the community showed signs of improvement. These achievements were not solely mine; they were a testament to the cooperative spirit and commitment of the entire community.

1. What do we learn about the author from the first two paragraphs?

A．He was unwilling to volunteer in Sierra Leonne.

B．He felt excited about the assignment in Kurubonla.

C．He applied for the “Saving Lives Ⅱ” project for his future promise.

D．He was immediately sent to Kurubonla after he was awarded the role.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．He assisted in the projects led by the locals.

B．He met with only language and cultural barriers.

C．He overcame challenges to serve the community.

D．He attended the training courses organized by the local leaders.

3. Which of the following best describes the author’s personality?

A．Devoted but stubborn.	B．Determined and passionate.
C．Confident and cautious.	D．Motivated but moody.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The author’s growth through volunteering.

B．Language and culture in voluntary work.

C．Collective efforts in community development.

D．Volunteers’ challenges in remote communities.

4 . 阅读短文，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。

Confucius was a government official in the state of Lu, in what is now Shandong, China. His real name was Kong Qiu, but within China he is most often called Kongzi, which     1     (mean) Master Kong.

During Confucius’s lifetime, China was ruled by the Zhou Dynasty(1046-256 BCE).     2    , by the time Confucius was born, this dynasty was in a slow decline. The emperor’s power was weakening and many small states were fighting     3     (gain) control. Confucius’s own city, Qufu, was capital of the state of Lu, and power in this state     4     (divide) between several families which could not get along.

As a government official of the state of Lu, Confucius wanted to end     5     conflict between these families, and to help do this, he developed a philosophy     6     he believed would bring peace and harmony. Confucius was perhaps a     7     (good) philosopher than he was a government official, and he ended up having to leave the state of Lu. He spent thirteen years traveling around the other states,     8     (spread) his philosophy, before returning to Qufu where he spent his later life teaching his disciples (门徒). The collective body of Confucius’s teachings came to be known     9     Confucianism. This enduring philosophical tradition has had a profound and lasting impact on Chinese culture and     10     (civilize), shaping values and attitudes for over two millennia.

5 . An increase in a country’s working-age population is a blessing. Lots of workers support relatively few children and retired people. So long as the labor market can absorb an increasing number of job-seekers, output per head will rise. That can boost savings and investment, leading to higher economic growth, more productivity gains and developmental speed-up. Yet for countries that fail to seize this opportunity, the results can be tough.

Consider Thailand. It is rapidly aging. In 2021, the share of Thais aged 65 or over hit 14%, a figure that is often used to define an aged society Soon Thailand will, like Japan, South Korea and most Western countries, see a decreasing supply of workers and flagging productivity and growth without extraordinary measures. Yet unlike Japan and the rest. Thailand is not a developed country. It has got old before it has got rich.

This is a big barrier to Thailand’s future development. To protect its aging citizens, many of whom are poor, Thailand’s government will have to spend more on health care and pensions (养老金). This will make it harder to invest in productivity-boosting skills and infrastructure (基础设施). And where Thailand goes, many developing countries will follow.

One conclusion is that countries with a working-age burst need seeking more economic growth out of it. India may never have a better chance than the present. It is widely accepted that privatization and looser foreign-investment rules could raise its growth rate.

Another conclusion is that developing countries need to start planning for old age earlier. They should reform their pension systems, including by raising retirement ages. They should encourage financial markets, providing options for long-term saving and health insurance. And they should try harder to increase female participation in the labor force. Getting more women into jobs would help deal with the fact that women live longer than men, but tend to have less savings and pensions, leaving them in difficult situations in old age.

1. What does “opportunity” in the first paragraph refer to?

A．Providing more jobs for working-age laborers.

B．Reducing support for children and the elderly.

C．Encouraging investment for economic growth.

D．Increasing economic output and labor productivity.

2. Why is aging considered a barrier to Thailand’s future development?

A．It causes a shortage of young workers.

B．It forces the country to invest in infrastructure.

C．It leads to less investment in economic development.

D．It increases the burden on the working-age population.

3. Why is it important for developing countries to involve more women in labor force?

A．To extend women’s retirement ages.

B．To encourage women to be included in health insurance.

C．To equalize the number of men and women in the workplace.

D．To settle the conflict between women’s long lifespan and small pension.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Aging Problems in Developing Countries.

B．Planning Ahead for Aging Societies.

C．Challenges and Opportunities of Aging Societies.

D．The Role of Female Labors in Addressing the Aging Issue.

6 . 在老师的鼓舞下，学生们在专心致志为即将到来的考试做准备。(inspire，absorbed)(汉译英)
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7 . AI-generated content has recently won big in the literary world. Japanese author Rie Kudan won one of Japan’s most famous literary awards, the Akutagawa Prize, with the help of ChatGPT in The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy.

The book is set in future Japan, where Al has become an important part of people’s lives. The story centers around an architect who creates a comfortable prison but struggles with a society that she sees as being overly sympathetic to criminals.

Kudan admitted at a news conference that “around 5 percent of the book’s text was taken directly from generative AI,” reported kyodo News. She added that there is a scene in the book where an AI chatbot answers the main character’s questions and she used AI-generated text in the responses given by AI in the story. The word-for-word content generated by Al was applauded by committee members as “practically flawless”, said CNN.

This is not the first time that AI-related works have won prizes. In October 2023, The Land of Machine Memories was awarded second prize at China’s fifth youth popular science and science fiction competition. The fiction was fully created by AI with the prompts (提示) given by Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University. Surprisingly, just one judge among the six of the competition realized that what they were reading was the product of a machine.

So will literature in the future be all about Al? Debates are still ongoing on the matter. Japanese literary critic Akira Okawada told Tyodo News that “it is difficult for AI to create work that addresses ethical themes in depth”. However, Chinese writer Luo Ping holds the positive view. “Improvements in technology will not cause human laziness in creating, but rather will only make them involved in more heated competition. With the help of technology, the starting point of human thinking will only grow higher,” Luo told Hongxing News.

“I think this is only the beginning for AI in creating literature,” Fu Changyi, a member of Jiangsu Popular Science Writers Association, told online news Guancha. “We will wait and see how the future goes,” he added.

1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To lead in the topic of the text.	B．To promote an AI-generated book.
C．To introduce a famous Japanese writer.	D．To show the advancement of ChatGPT.

2. What do we know about the book The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy?

A．It was fully created by AI.

B．It is the first AI-created book winning an award.

C．Six judges recognized that it was produced by AI.

D．The AI-created content in the book was highly spoken of.

3. What can we infer from Luo Ping’s words?

A．AI will bring human thinking to a higher level.

B．Human authors will be replaced by AI in the future.

C．Human will lose the enthusiasm to create because of AI.

D．AI doesn’t have the capability to deal with ethical issues.

4. What might be the overall tone of the passage towards AI in literature?

A．Concerned.

B．Negative.

C．Optimistic.

D．Indifferent.

8 . 有了这个新研发的应用程序的帮助，我可以轻松地跟踪我的健身目标。(with; track)(汉译英)
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9 . 如果可能的话，我们将参加一些社会活动，以便于我们更多地了解这个社会。(if状语从句的省略)(汉译英)
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10 .

Summary Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason’s parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, Boyhood charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before and is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.

Directed By: Richard Linklater Written By: Richard Linklater

Want to know what it’s like to be in on the discovery of a new American classical play. Check out Boyhood. Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age tale is the best movie of the year, a four-star game-changer that earns its place in the cultural time capsule.

By Peter Travers
1. How do the critics view on the movie Boyhood?

A．Positive.

B．Mixed.

C．Negative.

D．Neutral.

2. Who is the main character in Boyhood?

A．Richard Linklater.	B．Mason.
C．Ethan Hawke.	D．Patricia Arquette.

3. What’s the possible style of this movie?

A．Musical.

B．Sport.

C．History.

D．Drama.