1 . A Hollywood-quality movie may soon be only a few text prompts away. OpenAI last week revealed its latest, world-shocking technology: a text-to-video app called Sora that can produce photorealistic short videos lasting up to a minute.

The company hasn’t released Sora to the public yet, but the artificially generated videos it created for its demonstration were stunning. In one, the detailed prompt involves people walking through Tokyo while cherry blossoms are flying through the wind. The resulting video was a mind-blowing exercise in world-building, showing a couple walking in a detailed streetscape that is unmistakably Tokyo. Perhaps even more awe-inspiring is that Sora does not merely produce videos that fulfill the demands of the prompts. It improvises (即兴创作) in a way that suggests a talent for storytelling.

“Good grief,” said Loz Blain in New Atlas. “We’d better try to deal with the speed at which this technology is advancing. The wheel, the steam engine, the airplane, the computer, the Internet... None of them ever sped up like this. If you look closely, you can’t tell that these very short videos aren’t real. But it’s impossible to say whether this technology is nearly as good as it’s going to get. Videos made a year ago, using the AI tool Midjourney, couldn’t even display the correct number of fingers on a hand. But Sora now creates a world as you describe. Get ready for the next wave of ‘AI disruption (颠覆)’ as Sora shakes the entertainment industry.”

Yet costs are increasing, too. Estimates of the cost of building out AI systems have varied from hundreds of billions to 7 trillion dollars over the coming years. Where’s the money going to come from? With OpenAI’s current valuation approaching $100 billion, traditional investors are largely priced out. Governments may be one possible solution, but many are likely to have national security concerns about backing this technology.

Such concerns are well founded. It’s simply impossible to know how these systems will be misused until they’re out in the wild. While OpenAI has the ability to prevent violent pictures, disinformation is much harder to police. Faked videos could so w confusion and chaos. At the very least, OpenAI should wait until after November to bring Sora to the public.

1. Why does the author mention the resulting video in paragraph 2?

A．To show Sora has a better gift for writing stories.

B．To show Sora has the potential to create great videos.

C．To show the video is as good as a Hollywood-quality one.

D．To show the video is a stunning result of human wisdom.

2. What is Loz Blain’s attitude towards the future of Sora?

A．Dismissive.

B．Unclear.

C．Optimistic.

D．Objective.

3. What can be inferred about the technology from the last two paragraphs?

A．It is bound to cause confusion and chaos.

B．Traditional investment in it is a possible option.

C．Governments are doubtful about its development.

D．Possible problems related to its use remain to be seen.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Sora: a Rising Star of Video-Making	B．Sora: an Admirable Genius at Storytelling
C．Sora: a Troublemaker of Public Safety	D．Sora: a Potential Promoter of Film Industry

2 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

In Texas, a concerned father named Bradley learned that his 17-year-old son, Brad, was causing trouble at school. It wasn’t just a one-time occurrence; Brad’s physics teacher had complained multiple times about his constant talking during class. As a result, Bradley was faced with the challenge of finding an effective way to discipline his son and teach him a valuable lesson.

In a moment of inspiration, Bradley came up with an idea that parents around the world would later praise him for. He decided to teach his son a lesson. He declared, “If we receive another call from your physics teacher, I will go to your school and sit beside you in class.”

However, Brad didn’t take his father’s words seriously and continued his loose conduct in his physics class. And his father received another call from the teacher, and now it was time for the father to keep his promise.

Friday arrived, and Bradley, who normally had this day off from work, was awakened by his wife. He reluctantly got ready to go to his son’s school. Upon arriving at the school, he made his way to Brad’s physics classroom. The other students chatted joyfully, unaware of what was about to happen. Bra d entered the room as usual, and to his shock, he saw his father sitting by his desk. It hit him like a ton of bricks. His dad had actually come to school and was sitting right next to him in class. The once happy-go-lucky teenager was now filled with embarrassment and regret.

Throughout the class, Bradley silently observed his son’s behavior. He witnessed first-hand the disruptive comments and constant talking that had been causing so much trouble. It was clear that Brad was not taking his education seriously, and his father realized that something needed to be changed.

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。
After the class ended, Bradley apologized to the physics teacher for his son’s behavior.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Later that day, when Bra d returned home, his father was already waiting for him.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Aviation is a big polluter. Cutting the sector’s impact on global warming is high on the agenda. Although many governments are regulating emissions from cars and trucks, air transportation is technologically rooted in old patterns.

Facing the reality that the sector will keep emitting a lot, ICAO has established an international carbon-trading plan—Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA. This encourages wide use of offsets (抵消) : aviation companies can buy emissions credits or invest in sectors that store carbon, such as forestry, to allow them to carry on as normal. CORSIA aims to keep CO2 emissions at 2019 levels through such purchases for emissions over that year’s baseline. ICAO predicts that increasing demand might reach 1. 7 billion tons by 2035, potentially making aviation the largest offset market in the world.

Yet offsetting faces a fundamental challenge: the size of the offset requires estimating flows of warming pollution that would have occurred if the carbon-removal project hadn’t existed, and comparing them against flows with the project in place. The former — a baseline that is unobservable — is a hotbed for shady accounting.

The vast majority of offsets today and in the expected future come from forest-protection and regrowth projects. The track record of reliable accounting in these industries is poor, because they lack convincing baselines. Even with oversight, forest projects are often troubled by wild assumptions, for example that trees would disappear completely from these areas in the absence of those projects, even when there are other forest protections in place. Such assumptions drive up baselines and flood the market with huge volumes of offsets. They make it easier for accountants to claim a net reduction in emissions even though the atmosphere sees little or no benefit. These problems are essentially unfixable. Evidence is mounting that offsetting as a strategy for reaching net zero is a dead end.

In our view, this approach could prove dangerously narrow. Removing aviation’s impact on global warming means upending the industry. The longer that reality is overlooked, the harder it will be to find effective solutions.

1. What does aviation refer to in the passage?

A．A project which needs revising.	B．A resource which needs trading.
C．A market which needs expanding.	D．An industry which needs reforming.

2. Why should aviation companies buy emissions credits?

A．To support the development of forestry.	B．To earn the largest profit in offset market.
C．To keep the levels of emission unchanged.	D．To make up for emissions over the baseline.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Too many offsets are filling the market now.

B．Some projects may cheat to create more offsets.

C．Offsetting contributes a lot to reducing emissions.

D．Trees would totally disappear without the projects.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the CORSIA?

A．Disapproving.

B．Confused.

C．Favorable.

D．Unconcerned.

4 . Tracks Through Time: Four Stunning UK Train Journeys

The United Kingdom is rightly celebrated as the birthplace of the railway. And there’s no better way to see it than sitting by the window in a train.

Glasgow to Mallaig

Considered by some to be the most scenic railway line in the world, this line takes passengers from the bustling city of Glasgow through Scotland’s wild western highlands to the remote port of Mallaig. Immerse yourself in unforgettable scenery on this journey, and don’t forget to look out for Ben Nevis!

The Caledonian Sleeper

Passengers can enjoy falling asleep to the rhythm of the train on leaving London, then waking up to the serene beauty of the Highlands at dawn right outside your window. Take a trip back in time with all the modern amenities you could want with this iconic train journey!

The Cambrian Line

Wales, with its dramatic landscapes, historic sites and inspiring vistas, offers some magical train journeys to be found in the UK. And perhaps the jewel in the Welsh crown is the Cambrian Line, which weaves its way through Mid Wales to the coast. The route begins in Shrewsbury in England and is famed for its scenery.

The Settle-Carlisle Line

No article on iconic United Kingdom train journeys would be complete without this incredible train line. Opened in 1876, the 73-mile long route takes the traveller from Settle Junction in North Yorkshire to Carlisle in Cumbria. Threatened with closure in the 1980s, the line was saved thanks to the efforts of rail lovers, and passenger numbers have gone from strength to strength.

1. Which place should you go to if you want to visit a harbor?

A．Glasgow.	B．Mallaig.
C．Western highlands.	D．Ben Nevis.

2. What can you do by taking the Cambrian Line?

A．Pick up some precious jewels.

B．Weave magic to enjoy the route.

C．Have a sound and comfortable sleep.

D．Appreciate fantastic views in Wales.

3. Which line was once in danger of being shut?

A．Glasgow to Mallaig.	B．The Caledonian Sleeper.
C．The Cambrian Line.	D．The Settle Carlisle Line.

5 . The summer after my freshman year college, I had to get my first job. This was probably one of the _________ tasks I have ever had to do. I had never held a job when I was in high school because my parents wanted me to put all my _________ into my studies.

At first, it was very hard. I filled out dozens of _________ but got no calls back in the first two weeks. It made sense because I had _________ no job experience. All I could _________ was that being a high school graduate and a year of college.

However, halfway through the third week, I finally got a call back from one of the places I _________. We had set up a meeting time, and after my _________, I was more than ready to start working the following Monday. I was _________ at the chance of working for my wages.

When I started, it was very clear that I was not _________. I made mistakes with orders and often __________ sales promotions (推销). My parents made a bet I would not __________ the first two weeks, and I would be back looking for more __________. However, I stuck with it.

After working a while, I got better at orders, and always __________ the cheaper options for customers. A couple of weeks later, I had been told by the manager that I had __________ the award of the best employee of the month. It taught me a lot about responsibility and gave me the __________ of working.

1.

A．funniest

B．worst

C．hardest

D．lightest

2.

A．energy

B．motivation

C．wisdom

D．ambition

3.

A．questionnaires

B．surveys

C．certifications

D．applications

4.

A．exactly

B．absolutely

C．partly

D．doubtfully

5.

A．explain

B．claim

C．interpret

D．offer

6.

A．signed up

B．applied to

C．checked in

D．headed for

7.

A．interview

B．graduation

C．arrangement

D．performance

8.

A．surprised

B．disappointed

C．excited

D．worried

9.

A．skilled

B．frightened

C．patient

D．satisfied

10.

A．avoided

B．abandoned

C．postponed

D．forgot

11.

A．spend

B．last

C．continue

D．wait

12.

A．ideas

B．expectations

C．jobs

D．instructions

13.

A．sold

B．produced

C．kept

D．recommended

14.

A．confirmed

B．received

C．guaranteed

D．become

15.

A．confidence

B．importance

C．expectation

D．hope

6 . How to improve your home’s energy efficiency

Ensuring that your home is energy-efficient possibly keeps your bills right down and helps you play your part in the fight against climate change.     1    .

Insulate (使隔热) your loft

Most of your home’s wasted energy will attempt to escape through your roof. To stop it in its tracks, you must invest in having your loft insulated.    2    , but it will be sure to save you over £100 a year.

    3    

By investing in a top-of-the-line boiler, you’ll no doubt tap into an extra of savings. What’s more, making this kind of investment will also be sure to lower your home’s carbon emissions. When choosing a new boiler, give precedence (优先) to those that fall in or near the “A” category. Whatever you do, just don’t slip towards the lower end of the scale.

Fit double glazing (双层玻璃)

    4    . This is because double-glazed windows and doors trap more heat than regular ones, ultimately meaning they will stop you from having to put your heating on as much or as high. The initial investment demanded in this instance can be costly, which is why you should consider making use of the Help to Buy Windows Scheme.

Keep an eye on your energy consumption

Only when you know how much energy you use can you take action with regards to being less wasteful and more resourceful. This means that you should make a conscious effort to keep an eye on your energy consumption.    5    , you might want to consider fitting an energy monitor in your home. Generally, this type of technology will cost between £25 and £40.

A．Update your boiler

B．Maximize the boiler

C．To assist you in rising to this challenge

D．Taking such action may demand some cost in advance

E．Double-glazed windows will increase your energy consumption

F．Take these steps, and you’ll be living in an energy-efficient home

G．Double glazing will make a massive difference to your annual energy bills

7 . Individuals vary in how they react to anxiety. Some bury their heads in the sand and ignore the mounting sense of anxiety that seems to occupy the society. Others are in a watchful state and can’t get enough of the up-to-the-minute news and social media feeds.

Martin Buber once stated that we related to three things around us: nature, our fellow men, and how you view the world. When we are in a burdened (忧虑的) state, we tend to take no notice of any of these. When we become unburdened from our depressed selves, we are able to discover the delights and wonders around and experience a deep sense of gratitude.

At a time when news reports are merely a click away, people’s anxiety becomes even intenser. Because of 24/7 media, the international and the interpersonal have integrated in a way that we have never seen before. It seems that we’ve lost the capacity to maintain our inner peace—and that’s not just a matter of having opposing views about issues. It’s a matter of not having the patience to involve in delightful communication and to hear each other. Transforming the situation can't be achieved overnight. It’s not accidental, which must be approached with strength. It comes from the efforts to attain understanding and calm.

Our age of anxiety presents us with challenges. But out of adversity comes opportunity. Never can we maintain calm and experience gratitude at a time when we are burdened, worried, and anxious. Like anything else, relaxation and calm take a bit of work. Attempt to limit your exposure to updates on the news and take a couple of moments to count your blessings—including the people in your life and the fortune from which you’ve benefited. As you may be aware, it is taking things for granted that robs you of the fruits of your labor. Praying for goodness and planting seeds of gratitude may be our only way out.

1. What might happen to a relaxed person?

A．Spotting the beauty in the surroundings.	B．Paying no attention to the state of mind.
C．Getting on well with nature and fellows.	D．Grasping the latest news items with care.

2. What makes people anxiety-stricken?

A．The lack of peaceful talks.	B．The information overload.
C．The widespread false news.	D．The opposing views online.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Methods to overcome challenges and barriers.

B．Steps to robbing people of their fruits of labor.

C．Tips on limiting the exposure to news updates.

D．Ways to ease anxiety and appreciate blessings.

4. Which might be a suitable title for the text?

A．Take Nothing Online for Granted

B．Watch Out for the Traps of Media

C．Be Grateful in an Age of Anxiety

D．Count Blessings Instead of Worries

8 . The next generation of scientists and inventors is already finding approaches to address society’s problems. A group of high school students and their instructor report a solution to the problem of lead (铅) pollution in drinking water — an inexpensive faucet (水龙头) attachment that removes this poisonous metal. Unlike conventional filters currently on the market, theirs includes a container made of eco-friendly plastic and indicates when it’s “used up” by turning the tap water yellow.

“A few years ago, I saw a video of a woman in Michigan turn on her tap water, and it came out brown.” says Rebecca Bushway, the project’s principal investigator. “That made me think — because there’s really no safe level of lead in drinking water, wouldn’t it be nice to have a water filter that could tell you your water is polluted, well before it turns brown because of lead?”

Bushway, as a science teacher, wondered aloud to her chemistry class if there was a little filter that they could make from inexpensive components to easily remove lead. The students were excited about the idea, and they started thinking about the project in 2020.

The students discussed designs for an attachment to screw (用螺丝固定) a filter onto a sink’s faucet. Then in the spring semester of 2021, they 3D printed the attachment and a 3-inch-tall filter housing, using eco-friendly plastic. They filled the containers with some chemical powder. Next, the students added a tiny spectrophotometer (分光光度计) with a single-wavelength LED to the bottom of the filter container. They installed an indicator light that turns on as soon as the detector identifies the yellow color of the lead iodide (碘化铅).

The team’s goal is to make and sell their filters for less than $1 each. Because the housings use eco-friendly plastic, the cost could trend a little higher, but the material would help reduce the overall environmental impact of the filter.

The process of developing the filter has been very fulfilling. “Ultimately, this experience has shown students they can make a difference to somebody, and that there are problems they can fix with science,” said Bushway.

1. What shows that the filter is running out according to the text?

A．The change of the water’s color.	B．The change of the filter housing’s color.
C．The times of the filter being used.	D．The flash of the indicator light.

2. What inspired Bushway to remove lead in the water?

A．Her personal experience in Michigan.	B．The unsafe water used by a woman.
C．A lack of safe drinking water.	D．The experiments carried out in her class.

3. What can be inferred from paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．Chemical powder reacts with the lead in the water.

B．A detector is fixed to identify the lead iodide.

C．The students have developed eco-friendly plastic.

D．The filter has an advantage over others in price.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To advertise a product to remove lead to readers.

B．To highlight the hardships the inventors encounter.

C．To praise the young for shouldering responsibilities.

D．To stress the importance of environmental protection.

9 . Most Popular UK Destinations for a Staycation

Looking for a cheap stay cation to brighten up your winter? Here are the most popular destinations in the UK.

Blackpool

Whether you’re seeking the thrills of Blackpool Pleasure Beach or are keen to catch a glimpse of Blackpool Tower, the city’s most appealing attraction, the seaside town offers various amazing views. It’s no wonder the town has gained 980.8 million views on TikTok. With accommodation price £75 for a night, you’ll have a golden opportunity to enjoy Blackpool's Illuminations (彩灯) display and the Seaside Trail.

Searborough

North Yorkshire’s Scarborough sees 49,500 monthly searches and 686.4 million views on TikTok. One of the local highlights is the annual St Nicholas Fair. While a one-night stay in Scarborough costs £85, the town offers holiday-makers opportunities to experience ancient British culture at the 12th-century castle ruins.

Swansea

The Welsh town sees 27,100 monthly searches and has 622.4 million views on TikTok. Swansea’s Waterfront Wonderland brings with it the Alpine Village and various amusement attractions. Spending a night here costs just 10 pounds more than in Scarborough. But if you book a week earlier, you can get a 5 percent discount in total. With Cardiff only being an hour’s drive from Swansea, you have the perfect opportunity to catch a game of ice hockey.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth isn’t called Sunny Bournemouth for nothing, as holiday-makers can enjoy breathtaking views along the Jurassic Coast. With a World Heritage Site within its borders, it’s no surprise to see this town with the high number of views on TikTok (868.3 million). A one-night stay will cost you £105, giving you the perfect opportunity to get relaxed.

1. What is the most attractive in Blackpool?

A．Blackpool Pleasure Beach.	B．Blackpool Tower.
C．The Illuminations display.	D．The Seaside Trail.

2. How much will a tourist at least pay for a night in Swansea?

A．£ 70.

B．£ 85.

C．£ 85.75.

D．£ 90.25.

3. Which of the following has the second-highest number of views on TikTok?

A．Blackpool.

B．Swansea.

C．Scarborough.

D．Boumemouth.

10 . I’m not a good traveler. Without curiosity to get out and ________, traveling has never been my strong point. Sightseeing is not an experience that I find ________: when it’s too hot, I’m uncomfortable; when it’s too cold, I’m uncomfortable. Not knowing what the food will be like at new places has always made me ________.

It would be kind to say that I have a low sense of ________. So, I was ________ about doing a travel show that centered on pushing my ________. But it just goes to show that we’re never too old to ________ ourselves.

South Africa was the biggest surprise. I had never really ________ to go on safari (观兽旅行) and was not excited about the prospect.

Once I was ________ there, all of a sudden, I knew why people say it’s exciting. I started to develop a great ________ for the animals. We visited a rhino conservation park (犀牛保护公园), where rhinos which have been badly injured by hunters are taken good care of. I even bottle-fed these beautiful babies. The most memorable part was the people I ________.

I’ve always been a very ________ person. But the experience of meeting so many new people has been ________, allowing me to ________ some of the cobwebs (蜘蛛网) that have formed for many years. Seeing the world has helped me ________ my natural cynicism (悲观情绪) and turned me into a more outgoing and positive person.

1.

A．exercise

B．experiment

C．explore

D．research

2.

A．dangerous

B．painful

C．suitable

D．enjoyable

3.

A．nervous

B．happy

C．angry

D．curious

4.

A．humor

B．adventure

C．direction

D．responsibility

5.

A．excited

B．serious

C．disturbed

D．hesitant

6.

A．plans

B．dates

C．boundaries

D．projects

7.

A．surprise

B．introduce

C．express

D．teach

8.

A．refused

B．failed

C．feared

D．wanted

9.

A．actually

B．usually

C．mainly

D．hardly

10.

A．respect

B．appetite

C．passion

D．understanding

11.

A．attracted

B．encountered

C．missed

D．helped

12.

A．patient

B．brave

C．shy

D．generous

13.

A．wonderful

B．tiring

C．boring

D．different

14.

A．build up

B．brush off

C．catch sight of

D．run away from

15.

A．accept

B．develop

C．find

D．lose