1 . Recent developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning have brought us in the eye of the storm of a new automation age. About half of the work carried out by people was likely to be automated by 2055 with adaption to technology, a McKinsey Global Institute report predicted.

Automation can enable businesses to improve performance by reducing errors and improving quality and speed, and in some cases achieving outcomes that go beyond human capabilities. At a time of weak productivity growth worldwide, automation technologies can provide the much-needed promotion of economic growth, according to the report. Automation could raise productivity growth globally by 0.8 percent to 1.4 percent. At a global level, technically automated activities involved 1.1 billion employees and 11.9 trillion U.S. dollars in wages, the report said.

The report also showed that activities most influenced by automation were physical ones in highly structured and predictable environments, as well as data collection and processing. In the United States, these activities make up 51 percent of activities in the economy, accounting for almost 2.7 trillion dollars in wages. They are most common in production, accommodation and food service, and the retail (零售) trade. And it’s not just low-skill, low-wage work that is likely to be influenced by automation; middle-skill and high-paying, high-skill occupations, too, have a degree of automation potential.

The robots and computers not only can perform a range of routine physical work activities better and more cheaply than humans, but are also increasingly capable of accomplishing activities that require cognitive (认知的) capabilities, such as feeling emotions or driving.

While much of the current debate about automation has focused on the potential that many people may be replaced and therefore lose their financial resources, the analysis shows that humans will still be needed: The total productivity gains will only come about if people work alongside machines.

1. What is the report mainly about?

A．Comparisons of robots with humans.

B．Analysis of automation’s potential in economy.

C．Prediction of the unemployment problem.

D．Explanations of the concept of the automation age.

2. What might happen in 2055 according to the text?

A．Automation will cause weak productivity growth.

B．Automation will reduce employees’ wages.

C．Activities like data collection and processing will disappear.

D．Activities involve feeling emotions can be performed by robots.

3. How does the author feel about human workers?

A．Worried.	B．Mixed.
C．Optimistic.	D．Doubtful.

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

A．Automation: A challenge to all?

B．Automation: Where to go from here?

C．Automation: Who is the eventual winner?

D．Automation: A future replacement for humans?

2 . College students around the world have recently developed products and designs for a chance to win the James Dyson Sustainability Award. The competition is tough, as many of the brightest engineers and scientists compete for the prize. But while every entry was impressive, Carvey Ehren Maigue’s ultimately won — for good reason!

The 27- year- old from the Philippines has been studying at one of the country’s top engineering schools and will graduate soon. Throughout his time there, he learned plenty about design, which is what led him to create AuREUS System Technology. These solar panels are made from food waste and transform UV light (紫外线) into renewable energy, even on a cloud y day!

According to the awarding remarks, AuREUS combines renewable material and advanced technology, which allows other devices to harvest UV light and transform it into electricity. Of course,“ it is environmentally friendly and can be used for a long time, perfectly meeting our purpose and making it the most striking one! It’s truly a game changer!”

AuREUS is based on a plastic material, so it can be formed into different shapes. The science behind it is a bit confusing, but in Carvey’s words, “AuREUS is actually a material, or a technology. With AuREUS, we upcycle the crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters, such as typhoons, which also happen to be an effect of climate change. By transforming them into new energy, we can be both future- looking, and solve the problems that we are currently experiencing now.”

While it’s clear to us that this product is special, Carvey was still caught by surprise when he found out he won the competition. It took a few days for him to process the news, and he’s already looking at what he can create next! “I was very happy because I know that through this award, I will be able to reach out to more people,” he added. “This is my second time applying, and through persistence, I managed to win.”

1. What is the function of the second paragraph?

A．To offer background information about Carvey.

B．To show how Carvey prepared for the competition.

C．To explain why Carvey could win the competition.

D．To introduce some unknown factors behind the win.

2. What makes AuREUS stand out from the entries?

A．Its sustainability.	B．Its high technology.
C．Its new materials.	D．Its effective use.

3. What can we learn about AuREUS?

A．It can detect some food waste.

B．It may promote crop production.

C．It is mainly meant for farmers.

D．It can make waste advantageous.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Carvey?

A．Positive and hotheaded.	B．Hard-working and humble.
C．Helpful and persistent.	D．Broad-minded and accessible.

3 . There are tons of physics textbooks available around the world. Based on our web research, here are our top four picks with the introduction of physics in simple, practical language.

Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics

This book is a collection of online teachings by Professor R. Shankar. Shankar is one of the first to be involved in the innovative Open Yale Courses program. It is a perfect introduction to college-level physics. Students of chemistry, engineering, and AP Physics will find this book helpful.

Physics for Students of Science and Engineering

This book helps students to read scientific data, answer scientific questions, and identify fundamental concepts. The new and improved 10th edition features multi-media resources, and questions to test students’ understanding of each concept.

The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Richard Feynman is regarded as one of the greatest teachers of physics to walk the face of the earth. This book is a collection of Feynman’s lectures. In his words, these lectures all began as an experiment, which, in turn, formed the basis of this book.

University Physics with Modern Physics

The book is recognized for teaching and applying principles of physics through a narrative (叙事的) method. To ensure a better understanding and ability to apply these concepts, worked examples are provided, giving students tools to develop problem-solving skills and conceptual understanding.

1. What do the first two books have in common?

A．They are improved editions.

B．They are written by professors.

C．They favor students of engineering.

D．They feature multi-media resources.

2. Which book best suits students who enjoy learning physics through practical examples?

A．Mechanics, Relativity, and Thermodynamics.

B．Physics for Students of Science and Engineering.

C．The Feynman Lectures on Physics.

D．University Physics with Modern Physics.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．An online article.

B．A research paper.

C．A physics textbook.

D．A science journal.

4 . 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。

 People say there seems to be so much negativity in this world, but there are good people out there and sometimes we are made aware of them when we least expect it.

My family had been planning a yard sale for several weeks. Our five-year-old son, Braxton, asked if he could set up a lemonade (柠檬水) stand during the yard sale. He wanted to make a little money and save up to buy a set of Lego bricks, which might add up to $100. “I will earn it myself!” he declared proudly. He had been talking about it almost non-stop and couldn’t wait for the day to finally arrive.

Two days ago, we put up the sign “Yard Sale” in front of the driveway, telling neighbors about the time and items. On the very day, Braxton woke up early at 6:00 am and couldn’t hide his excitement. After setting everything out for the yard sale, he made the lemonade and baked some cookies to begin his business adventure.

After about an hour or more, we had several customers, but Braxton still had not sold any lemonade. He was a little sad. Then a young woman walked up with her baby to browse the items. While making small talk, we told her about Braxton’s plan to save his money for his little dream. She then selected a couple of baby toys for just $6 and paid with a $10 bill. “Keep the change, boy!” she said gently. Braxton offered to give her the lemonade and cookies he made. He couldn’t have been happier to receive his first little bit of money for the day.

The woman left with the baby toys, the lemonade and some cookies. We didn’t give it much thought after that, but the story didn’t end there.

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。

Several minutes passed and the woman returned.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Holding the envelope and the bill, we were so moved.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

An exhibition titled “Learn from the Past and Know the Future: China’s Archaeological (考古学的) Achievements in the New Era” is taking place at the National Museum of China. Nearly 400 of the most recently     1     (unearth) cultural relics from the collections of 43 museums and archaeological institutions are     2     (current) on display.

The exhibits cover a wide range of periods     3     include a variety of fields. The exhibition vividly describes the history of human origins, the     4     (form) of Chinese civilization and its development within the boundaries of China. One striking part of the exhibition is the hand axes (斧),     5     are fundamental tools that were created and used by early humans. They are characterized by both their aesthetic (美学的) and practical     6     (function). Bronzeware is another eye-catching part of the exhibition. A bronze box     7     Yuncheng, Shanxi Province that     8     (date) back to the Spring and Autumn period is famous for its elegant design. And a string-patterned stove vividly reflects the significant role that the Silk Road played in     9     (connect) China with the world.

It is also worth noting that the design of the exhibition hall was inspired by the unique spatial (空间的) structures of the archaeological sites, offering audiences the chance     10     (understand) the relationship between archaeological work and its outcomes better.

6 . Sustainable travel is now one of the fastest-growing movements. Its goal is to meet the needs of the tourism industry without harming natural and cultural environments.     1     Here are some concrete ways to reduce your environmental impact as a traveler.

    2     Travel doesn’t have to be about going somewhere far away. It’s the art of exploration, discovery and getting out of your comfort zone, all of which can just as well be nearby. Find somewhere nearby you haven’t been, get in your car, and go for a visit. You never know what you’ll come across.

Make greener transportation choices. After walking, public transportation is the next best way to explore new destinations.     3     When it comes to longer distances, buses and trains are your best way of getting around, both of which can be quite an experience in and of itself.

Avoid over-visited destinations. If you can, avoid places with over-tourism. You’ll find fewer crowds and lower prices, and you also won’t be putting as much pressure on local communities struggling to keep up. And, from a personal-enjoyment point of view, who wants to deal with crowds or long lines? No one.     4    

Take a nature-related trip. If you want to better understand and appreciate the natural world, try taking a trip with the single purpose of connecting with nature.     5     I promise that when you come home, you’ll have a new viewpoint on why we’re all so focused on being environmentally friendly these days.

A．Stay close to home.

B．Find an ideal place to explore.

C．Sustainable travel can be useful to support communities.

D．Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s cheaper as well.

E．Get in touch with the world in a way that sitting at home doesn’t.

F．If not managed properly, tourism can have incredibly negative impacts.

G．Visiting less-visited destinations can be much more enjoyable and rewarding.

7 . Is diet soda safe? If you’re concerned about sugar, diet products seem a better option, sweet and not so bad for you. Wrong! Drinking diet soda regularly can increase your risk of diseases. Despite the fact that we call these drinks “diet”, the artificial sweeteners they contain are linked to weight gain, not loss.

There’s the latest evidence that they increase the risk of depression, which comes from a new analysis by researchers at Harvard Medical School. The team drew upon a data set of nearly 32,000 female nurses, ages 42 to 62 when the study began. It turned out that the nurses who consumed the most diet drinks had a 37 percent higher chance of depression, compared to those who drank the least or none.

Diet soda also increases your risk of stroke (中风), according to a separate meta-analysis that included 72 studies. Looking for the causes behind the stroke, researchers took various blood measurements when 12 healthy volunteers in their 20s drank water, soda, or diet soda. The result showed that both sodas slowed the flow of blood within the brain. Though the effect didn’t seem sufficient to cause stroke, slower blood flow could have accumulating effects.

Other researchers have found that diet soda increases the risk of dementia (痴呆), from data from nearly 178,000 volunteers tracked over an average of nine years. That’s not a big surprise. An earlier study of about 4,300 volunteers concluded that drinking diet soda every day was tied to three times the risk of dementia over the following decade. The researchers looked at brain scans and the results of mental function assessments. A daily diet soda was linked to smaller brains and aggravates long-term memory, two risk factors for dementia.

Avoiding depression, stroke, and dementia is an obvious goal for whoever desires to age healthily. So you know what to do.

1. How does the author present his point of view?

A．By analyzing causes.	B．By giving opinions.
C．By quoting specialists.	D．By presenting research.

2. What effect might diet soda have on people?

A．Slight weight loss.	B．Increased blood flow.
C．Raised depression risk.	D．Severe mental decline.

3. Which can best replace the underlined word “aggravates” in paragraph 4?

A．Deletes.

B．Worsens.

C．Motivates.

D．Stimulates.

4. What might the author advise us to do?

A．Quit consuming diet sodas.	B．Limit the daily sugar intake.
C．Set achievable health goals.	D．Follow fixed aging process.

8 . Last Friday, I headed to work on a crowded subway. Eyes glued to my ______, I surfed the Internet. As the doors closed, I heard the overhead voice. I generally ______ the repeated announcements. But this one was ______.

“Good morning,” said an energetic voice. It was such a nice voice, with such a nice ______, that I looked up, catching the eye of a fellow ______. “Paddington Station will be your next stop, your first opportunity to change for the two or three trains. It’s a new day, a new year, and a time for second chances. Please ______ your steps as you leave the train!”

I smiled, and the woman whose eyes I’d caught smiled, too. We ______. Then we did the thing that nobody ever does on a subway — we ______ to each other. Other passengers smiled, too. Our smiles lasted as the train reached Paddington Station. Together, we ______ to the very train that we might have the opportunity to ______ in limited time. On this train, I felt relieved and smiled. Then I got off at my stop and started my day. I felt so good in the office. That nice feeling ______ all day.

What happened? Could it be that an unusually ______ announcement and small talks with a ______ changed my mood? Yes, I believed so. Maybe I enjoyed the smile, the laugh, and the ______ philosophy. I realized that just saying “hello” might make you feel unexpectedly good. It’s the ______, though, that makes me feel most important.

1.

A．seat

B．phone

C．book

D．exit

2.

A．forget

B．doubt

C．mistake

D．ignore

3.

A．different

B．similar

C．terrible

D．funny

4.

A．greet

B．sense

C．tone

D．note

5.

A．director

B．passenger

C．worker

D．guide

6.

A．take out

B．speed up

C．arrange for

D．watch out for

7.

A．laughed

B．stopped

C．refused

D．wondered

8.

A．referred

B．objected

C．spoke

D．turned

9.

A．walked

B．rushed

C．moved

D．headed

10.

A．miss

B．repair

C．control

D．catch

11.

A．ended

B．began

C．lasted

D．changed

12.

A．optimistic

B．meaningful

C．amusing

D．powerful

13.

A．friend

B．colleague

C．stranger

D．broadcaster

14.

A．irregular

B．improper

C．illogical

D．unexpected

15.

A．transportation

B．connection

C．direction

D．invitation

9 . Many of us may have experienced the pleasant moment of seeing recommended songs after we listen to some songs on a music app. When we open shopping websites, we often see things we want to buy on the home page. The businessman can decide which is the best place to build a new entrance in a big supermarket in the city center. If you want to take a taxi on a taxi app, it can even guess where you want to go before you tell it! Aren’t these things amazing?

This is based on data. Data is no longer only about numbers, but information from almost every side of our lives: our shopping habits, interests or what we eat. All of this is called “big data” (大数据). In December, 2017, President Xi Jinping called for China to speed up its big data strategy to better serve social and economic development. As a result, people’s lives can be improved as well. He also asked for greater use of big data in areas like education, social security and transportation.

We have seen big data being used more often in China in the past few years. The role it plays in tourism (旅游业) is just one example. Many travelers today like to share their experiences with others on the Internet. All the data that travelers share online is helping the tourism industry get a lot of information. After the data is analyzed (分析), these tour sights can know about travelers’ needs better. In this way, services will be improved, which is helpful to the development of the whole industry. As a result, travelers can expect better tours in the future.

Moreover, big data is also an important growth tool for economic development. With growth rate of 30 percent every year, sales of big data industry in China will reach one trillion yuan yearly by 2020. Having so many good influences, big data is sure to be seen more and more in China.

1. According to Paragraph 1, big data can help people ________.

A．buy songs from a music app

B．design home pages for websites

C．take a taxi without paying for it

D．make better decisions in business

2. Data from travelers is analyzed in order to ________.

A．share travelling experiences online

B．expect better travelers in the future

C．improve services of the tour sights

D．know the needs of tour sights better

3. Which of the following words can describe the writer’s feeling towards big data?

A．Sad.	B．Bored.
C．Hopeful.	D．Careful.

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Big Data Brings Good Music

B．Big Data Influences China

C．Tourism Gets Help from Big Data

D．Sales of Big Data Industry in China

10 . Tobias, a 35-year-old Belgian musician, has become popular on social media for his excellent grasp of the Shanghai dialect. He has been sharing his everyday experiences, which he _______ in Shanghai dialect, on video-sharing and lifestyle _______ Douyin and Xiaohongshu, winning thousands of followers and millions of _______

In the videos, he speaks_______ Shanghai dialect, which many non-locals believe is as difficult to learn and _______ as a foreign language. He talks about walking on the city’s streets, enjoying the food and music, and _______ his daily life in the city. Tobias started shooting and _______ these short videos for his own practice purposes. He didn’t expect so many people would be watching them, following him and sending him _______ and encouragement.

Tobias did not bury his nose in textbooks or _______ intensive study to learn Shanghainese. He said his learning __________ involved getting immersed (沉浸) in a language environment, having a positive attitude, and speaking __________ “without being afraid to make mistakes” . He was not thinking too much when he started learning the Shanghai dialect — it was just for __________.

Tobias said he did not expect he would __________ the promotion of the Shanghai dialect, but it would be an __________ and pleasure if his posts encouraged his followers to learn and pass on the dialect. “I believe a dialect is the heart of a local __________” said the musician.

1.

A．acts

B．delivers

C．competes

D．votes

2.

A．approaches

B．habits

C．platforms

D．communities

3.

A．likes

B．dollars

C．medals

D．chances

4.

A．ancient

B．sweet

C．modern

D．fluent

5.

A．understand

B．write

C．create

D．practise

6.

A．advancing

B．searching

C．recording

D．observing

7.

A．testing

B．reviewing

C．selling

D．posting

8.

A．notes

B．comments

C．reports

D．replies

9.

A．interrupt

B．assess

C．conduct

D．appreciate

10.

A．materials

B．methods

C．objectives

D．resources

11.

A．secretly

B．slowly

C．happily

D．bravely

12.

A．fun

B．work

C．fame

D．show

13.

A．stick to

B．contribute to

C．focus on

D．rely on

14.

A．advantage

B．opportunity

C．honor

D．option

15.

A．authority

B．history

C．custom

D．culture