1 . When people hear “artificial intelligence,” many envision “big data.” There’s a reason for that: some of the most important AI breakthroughs in the past decade have relied on enormous data sets. But AI is not only about large data sets, and research in “small data” approaches has grown extensively over the past decade—with so-called transfer learning as an especially promising example. Also known as “fine-tuning,” transfer learning is helpful in settings where you have little data on the task of interest but abundant data on a related problem. The way it works is that you first train a model using a big data set and then retrain slightly using a smaller data set related to your specific problem.
Research in transfer learning approaches has grown impressively over the past 10 years. In a new report for Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), we examined current and projected progress in scientific research across “small data” approaches. Our analysis found that transfer learning stands out as a category that has experienced the most consistent and highest research growth on average since 2010. This growth has even outpaced the larger and more established field of reinforcement learning, which in recent years has attracted widespread attention.
Small data approaches such as transfer learning offer numerous advantages over more data-intensive methods. By enabling the use of AI with less data, they can bolster progress in areas where little or no data exist, such as in forecasting natural disasters that occur relatively rarely or in predicting the risk of disease for a population set that does not have digital health records.
Another way of thinking about the value of transfer learning is in terms of generalization. A recurring challenge in the use of AI is that models need to “generalize” beyond their training data. Because transfer learning models work by transferring knowledge from one task to another, they are very helpful in improving generalization in the new task, even if only limited data were available.
Moreover, by using pretrained models, transfer learning can speed up training time and could also reduce the amount of computational resources needed to train algorithms (算法). This efficiency is significant, considering that the process of training one large neural (神经系统的) network requires considerable energy.
Despite the growth in research, transfer learning has received relatively little visibility. The existence of techniques such as transfer learning does not seem to have reached the awareness of the broader space of policy makers and business leaders in positions of making important decisions about AI funding and adoption. By acknowledging the success of small data techniques like transfer learning—and distributing resources to support their widespread use—we can help overcome some of the common misconceptions regarding the role of data in AI and facilitate innovation in new directions.
1. What does the underlined word “bolster” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?| A．Promote. | B．Seek. |
| C．Track. | D．Monitor. |
| A．Predicting the frequency of floods in Amazon rainforest. |
| B．Designing a program that can read handwritten documents. |
| C．Forecasting the number of people infected with an unknown illness. |
| D．Predicting house prices based on basic features like area and location. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Critical. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．Transfer Learning: Where Does It Best Fit? |
| B．Small Data Are Also Crucial for Advancing AI |
| C．Transfer Learning Powers Technological Advances |
| D．Big Data vs. Small Data: Which Is the Future of AI? |
1. 人物简介：(1901- 1983;出生地：厦门市；“万婴之母”等)；
2. 主要事迹及贡献；
3. 你的感悟或评价。
参考词汇：medical scientist;mother of ten thousand babies
注意:
1. 词数80左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答
A Brief Introduction of Dr Lin Qiaozhi
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Childhood can bring a lot of awe (敬畏). Research also suggests that awe is important in promoting well-being beyond our individual lives — it can encourage our children to care for others.
A recent study by researchers Eftychia Stamkou, Keltner, and their colleagues invited children aged 8-13 to take part in an experiment. In the awe group, children were offered a short part of a movie that features a child transformed into a seal (海豹) and exploring the sea while in the joy group, children were offered a short part of another movie where friends were celebrating.
Researchers measured children’s kindness toward poor families by inviting children to support their food drive by spending as much time as they wanted in counting donated things, to make sure the poor got access to the donated food as quickly as possible. They also invited children to donate the reward they earned from taking part in the research (e.g., a snack or a museum ticket) to a poor family.
The results? Children who watched the awe-inspiring video spent more time counting food donations and donated their rewards to poor families more often compared to the children who watched the joy-inspiring video. These findings highlight that awe-inspiring art can motivate children to be sympathetic toward people who have been forcibly displaced (离开家园) from their countries of origin.
As parents, we can also seek out everyday experiences of awe in our communities to share with our children, like wall paintings of the city scenery and folk art. Awe can be inspired by music, like the harmonious sounds of a wooden guitar and the beat of a drum. Awesome architecture, like symphony halls, museums, and even features like staircases, can be a way to experience awe with our children.
1. What does the research find?| A．Awe should be inspired early. | B．Awe helps kids be more generous. |
| C．Individual lives affect kids’ health. | D．Training awe gives kids excitement. |
| A．They watched different movies. | B．They commented on the videos. |
| C．They were asked some questions. | D．They donated money to poor families. |
| A．They learned this from a video. | B．They were motivated by the movie. |
| C．They liked to contribute to charity. | D．They were reminded by the homeless. |
| A．Give reasons for feeling awe. | B．List experiences of awe. |
| C．Show benefits of awe to kids. | D．Appeal for developing awe in kids. |
4 . ACL 500 Word Story Competition
We are pleased to announce the launch of the ACL 500 Word Story Competition. This time the theme is “Awakening”. We’re looking for our community to pen a story that quickly catches our attention and tells a great tale. You can submit (提交) an entry as an individual achievement or as a team effort — we want to read both kinds! Our judges will include a range of our experienced instructors, staff and local Essex Author Sarah Armstrong.
Sarah Armstrong is the author of three novels, most recently The Wolves of Leninsky Prospekt and The Starlings of Bucharest, the first and second in the Moscow Wolves series. She is also the author of A Summer of Spying, a book mainly about her own experience. Sarah teaches undergraduate and postgraduate creative writing with The Open University, and lives in Essex with her husband and four children.
Rules:◆ Your story can be a poem, an essay or any other kinds of writing.
◆ Entries will need to be in a Word format. PDF files are unacceptable.
◆ Please ensure your story is suitable for all to read.
◆ Use the given submission form to submit your details and story. The deadline for submissions is 12th April.
Benefits:
◆ Prizes include a book voucher (代金券), a short creative writing course, and your work published.
◆ Discover new and exciting skills at writing while exploring your creative writing and sharing inspirational moments with others. We have a fantastic range of Creative Writing courses for you to choose from.
1. What do we know about the competition?
| A．It’s organized in honor of Sarah Armstrong. |
| B．It looks for both individual and group works. |
| C．It aims to awaken an interest in writing. |
| D．It’s targeted at undergraduates and postgraduates. |
| A．They should be submitted as a Word file. | B．They must be poems or essays. |
| C．They must be based on personal experience. | D．They should be about life in Essex. |
| A．A voucher for a course. | B．An expert training class by Sarah. |
| C．A vast range of courses. | D．An improvement to writing skills. |
5 . The high intelligence levels of orangutans (红毛猩猩) have long been recognised, partly due to their practical skills such as using tools to crack nuts and search for insects. But new research suggests the primate (灵长动物) has another handy skill: applying medicinal herbs intentionally to an open wound.
A male Sumatran orangutan known as Rakus was observed by the research team with a fresh facial wound in June 2022. Three days later, Rakus was witnessed feeding on the stem and leaves of a plant. Thirteen minutes after Rakus had started feeding on it, he began chewing the leaves without swallowing them, then used his fingers to apply the resulting juice directly on to his facial wound. He repeated this behavior for seven minutes and at last fully covered the wound with the chewed leaves. He then continued feeding on the plant for 30 minutes. Over the following days, there were no signs of infection. The wound closed within five days and was healed, with only a faint scar remaining after one month.
It is not the first time wild primate species have been spotted self-medicating: among other examples, Bornean orangutans have been seen rubbing their arms and legs with chewed leaves from a plant used by humans to treat sore muscles, while chimpanzees have been recorded chewing plants known to treat worm infections and applying insects to wounds. However, the new discovery is the first time a wild animal has been observed treating open wounds with a substance known to have medicinal properties. “In the chimpanzee case they used insects and unfortunately it was never found out whether these insects really promote wound healing. Whereas in our case, the orangutan used the plant, and this plant has known medical properties,” said Dr Caroline Schuppli, senior author of the research.
Rakus’s goal-oriented behavior and the medicinal properties of his chosen treatment offer insight into the origins of human wound care-the treatment of which was first mentioned in a medical manuscript dating to 2200BC. “It definitely shows that these basic cognitive capacities that you need to come up with a behaviour like this were present at the time of our last common ancestor most likely,” said Schuppli.
It remains unclear whether Rakus figured the process out for himself or learned it from another orangutan, although it has not been seen in any other individual.
1. How did the team conduct their research?| A．By analyzing previous records. | B．By tracking the research object. |
| C．By quoting others’ findings. | D．By categorizing qualities of primates. |
| A．The primate’s awareness of herb selection. | B．The locations of the wild primates. |
| C．The sizes of the application range. | D．The outcome of the treatment. |
| A．Supporting evidence for the research results. |
| B．Potential significance of the research findings. |
| C．A further explanation of the research summary. |
| D．A reasonable doubt about the research process. |
| A．The origin of Rakus’ intentional self-medication. |
| B．Different medicinal plants used by wild primates. |
| C．Active wound treatment s shared by humans and primates |
| D．The possible influence from Rakus’ family. |
6 . 2024 Cambridge Open Days
Join us in July 2024 for our next undergraduate Open Days. Our next undergraduate Open Days will take place on Thursday 4 July and Friday 5 July 2024.
Cambridge Open Days are aimed at prospective applicants from Year 12 (or equivalent) and mature applicants (aged 21 or over), together with their parents or supporters, to help them learn more about the University.
What to expect
During the Open Days you can find out about our courses, the Colleges and departments, university facilities, the application process, student life, and finance.
You can also ask our current staff and students questions about living and studying at the University of Cambridge.
Both days will have a similar programme, with most events running between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm (UK time).
Visit before the Open Days
Visit our events listing page to discover other events including applicant webinars (网络研讨会) and events run by the Colleges and departments.
Many of the College are open to visitors throughout the week, please check with the relevant College before visiting for opening times. If you’d like to meet with a member of admission staff during your visit, please contact one of the Colleges’ admission offices in advance to make an appointment.
If you want to get a feel for Cambridge before you arrive, check out our Virtual Tour and visit Colleges and facilities using our platform.
Booking information for 2024
Bookings for the 2024 Open Days will open in Spring 2024. You will need to register via the online booking form and once registered you will receive a booking confirmation via email. Please note that each prospective applicant can bring a maximum of one guest with them to the Open Day. To keep up-to-date and receive an email once bookings are live, subscribe to our student newsletter.
1. Who are the Cambridge Open Days primarily aimed at?| A．Researchers from other universities. | B．High school students in Year 11 and 12. |
| C．International tourists visiting Cambridge. | D．Possible applicants and their supporters. |
| A．Participating in student clubs. | B．Asking current students questions. |
| C．Attending lectures by professors. | D．Submitting their college application. |
| A．By visiting the events listing page. | B．By e-mailing an admission officer. |
| C．By completing the registration online. | D．By subscribeing to the student newsletter. |
7 . Leave the Screens at Home on Your Next Family Road Trip
The other day, a friend sent me an email, asking if I’d consider writing about educational apps for children to watch while on road trips. The email said, “
While the intention is well-meaning, I disagree with his idea. There is so much to see on a road trip!
Take physical books along. Choose some novels for an older reader, get cartoon books, or take interactive books such as I Spy, coloring books, puzzle books, etc.
Play games.
Long road trips shouldn’t just be about endurance (耐力); they should also be about learning how to pass the time without a screen. So, challenge yourselves to a screen-free road trip the next time you go somewhere as a family.
| A．Have some conversation starters ready. |
| B．The Great License Plate Search is a fun one. |
| C．You may be surprised at what a success it is. |
| D．Collect your kids’ questions before starting off. |
| E．Many are turning to road trips for a late-summer escape. |
| F．Help your kids to make a list of things they’ll see on the trip. |
| G．If they stare at a screen, they’ll miss everything outside the window. |
8 . On one side of the room sits the cutest life-size stuffed animal (填充玩具) you’ve ever seen. On the other side rests a real dog — the same size, shape and even the same name as the stuffed version. You get to sit next to both of these furry friends and pet their fur. Guess which one will make your brain light up?
If you guessed the real dog, you’re right. Stuffed animals, as cute and lovely as they may be, just don’t effectively activate our frontal cortex (额叶皮层), the part of the brain overseeing how we think and feel, according to a new study published in the journal PLOSONE. The study found an even stronger rise in brain activity when the person petted the fur of a real dog versus a stuffed animal.
“We chose to research the frontal cortex because this brain area is involved in several executive (执行) functions, such as attention, working memory, and problem-solving. But it is also involved in social and emotional processes,” said study lead author Rahel Marti, a doctoral student in the division of clinical psychology at the University of Basel in Switzerland.
Why is this finding important? It provides additional evidence that live human-animal interaction therapy (疗法) may promote cognitive and emotional activity in the brain. Marti said, “If patients with deficits in motivation, attention, and socioemotional functioning show higher emotional involvement in activities connected to a real dog, then such activities could increase the chance of learning and of achieving treatment aims.”
“This is an interesting, seriously conducted study that provides new insight into associations between human-animal interaction and regional prefrontal brain activity in healthy adults. We found that brain activity increased when the contact with a real dog or a stuffed animal became closer. This confirms previous studies relating closer contact with animals to increased brain activity,” Marti said.
1. How does the author introduce the subject of the text?| A．By listing some figures. | B．By giving an example. |
| C．By setting a situation. | D．By analyzing a phenomenon. |
| A．It is involved in several body parts. |
| B．It is the most important part of the brain. |
| C．It plays a key part in performing functions. |
| D．It provides evidence for live human-animal therapy. |
| A．Styles. | B．Faults. | C．Adventures. | D．Sources. |
| A．What Petting A Dog Can Do For Your Brain? |
| B．Why A Pet Dog Is Important To A Person? |
| C．Which Part Of The Brain Is Involved In Emotion? |
| D．How Can A Patient Benefit From Petting A Dog? |
9 . We’ve seen it used numerous times, from the cover of publications to speeches by world leaders: “Data (数据) is the new oil.” But the analogy (类比) should stop there.
Douglas Hofstadter, a philosopher, notes that this commonly-heard analogy belongs to those on which nonspecialists are likely to base their understandings of scientific ideas. Such analogies are probably easy to remember but in a certain context they can lead to complete dead ends.
There is a fixed amount of oil on our planet to be extracted (提取). Unlike oil, increasing amounts of data are being produced at a rate that’s hard to fathom: in the next two years, 40 zettabytes of data will be created — an amount so large that there is no useful approach to showing or describing its size effectively.
The value of oil comes from its limited amounts and the difficulty of extracting it. However, data is something quite different. For example, data is both created and used by autonomous cars interacting with connected equipment in a smart city. In San Francisco, there are 470,000 registered cars. If just 25% of those cars were autonomous, the amount of data produced yearly would be the same as about 300,000,000 Internet users. Imagine what will happen if this situation covers a whole country.
Oil is also a single-use supply, while data can be reused and shared for new purposes. Recently, data from a test of drugs commonly used to treat heart problems was reused, leading to the discovery of a second use for the medicine: destroying a protein (蛋白质) related to nearly half of all cancers. In comparison, adding more oil doesn’t result in getting better quality oil.
So the next time you hear someone say this analogy, ask them when the earth will have no more data to extract and see if you can get an answer.
1. What’s Hofstadter’s attitude to the famous analogy?| A．Supportive. | B．Objective. | C．Negative. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．Understand. | B．Quicken. | C．Discover. | D．Reuse. |
| A．To explain it has busy public transportation. |
| B．To suggest it employs many autonomous cars. |
| C．To prove it is in great demand of updated data. |
| D．To show it alone creates large amounts of data. |
| A．It may prevent some cancers from happening. |
| B．It promotes scientific creations and advances. |
| C．It inspires healthy competition in the drug market. |
| D．It makes medical treatment accessible to people. |
10 . Over the past year, just about every major streaming service has raised its subscription (订阅) fees. At the same time, there are more membership deals, ad-supported subscriptions and streaming services overall.
First, you should decide what kind of viewer you are by creating a TV diary.
If the fees from all your subscriptions come from the same credit card or bank account, you can more easily track spending and end payments quickly. Also, online resources can help track regular subscription payments.
Check your streaming services occasionally. Frequently call up each streaming service you access, and look up your account information.
| A．It remains the biggest concern for the consumers |
| B．You can also drop and add services regularly |
| C．Major streaming services promise ads will be limited |
| D．This can help avoid the occurrence of repeated charges |
| E．Make sure the grade of subscription meets your needs |
| F．You may have some challenging time ahead as a streaming user |
| G．Write down what you watch and where you might find it |
