1 . In a new blog post for the International Monetary Fund, four researchers presented their findings from a working paper that examines the current relationship between finance and tech as well as its potential future.
Gazing into their crystal ball, the researchers see the possibility of using the data from your browsing, search, and purchase history to create a more accurate mechanism for determining the credit rating of an individual or business. They believe that this approach could result in greater lending to borrowers who would potentially be denied by traditional financial institutions.
At its heart, the paper is trying to wrestle with the dawning notion that the institutional banking system is facing a serious threat from tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple. The researchers identify two key areas in which this is true: Tech companies have greater access to soft-information, and messaging platforms can take the place of the physical locations that banks rely on for meeting with customers.
The concept of using your web history to inform credit ratings is framed around the notion that lenders rely on hard-data that might hide the worthiness of a borrower or paint an unnecessarily bad picture during hard times. Citing soft-data points like "the type of browser and hardware used to access the internet, the history of online searches and purchases" that could be included in evaluating a borrower, the researchers believe that when a lender has a closer relationship with the potential client's history, they might be more willing to cut them some slack.
"Banks tend to cushion credit terms for their long-term customers during downturns," the paper's authors write. This is because they have a history and relationship with the customer.
The researchers acknowledge that there will be privacy and policy concerns related to including this kind of soft-data in credit analysis. Getting the soft-data points would probably require companies like Facebook and Apple to loosen up their standards on linking unencrypted information with individual accounts. How they might share information with other institutions would be its own can of worms.
1. What is the approach put forward by the researchers?A.Replacing banks with soft information. | B.Lending money by predicting the future. |
C.Determining credit ratings by web history. | D.Facing the threat posed by high-tech companies. |
A.Traditional finance refuse to lend money. |
B.The new approach helps reduce burden on banks. |
C.The type of hardware misleads the lender’s judgement. |
D.Soft information better reflects the truth than hard data. |
A.Be less strict. | B.Share interests. | C.Forgive others’ fault. | D.Cut a piece of bread. |
A.Banks will break up with customers. |
B.High tech companies will be in a mess. |
C.Sharing information may cause problems of privacy. |
D.Competition between tech companies will be more fierce. |
2 . NOT that long ago, the world wondered whether clean energy could survive without government support. Now the question is how far it can spread. The number of electric vehicles, which was about 1 million in 2015, last year reached 2 million. In electricity generation, too, trend is with the greens. In the first half of this year wind, solar and hydro generated a record 35% of Germany's power.
Greater success is breeding greater ambition. California is proposing to reach 60% renewable energy by 2030. 176 countries have clean-energy goals. Hawaii, America's most oil-dependent state, has promised to be 100% renewable by the middle of the century and so have 48 poor countries vulnerable to climate change. This week the number of multinationals making a commitment to running their operations on 100% renewable energy rose to 100.
But not every target is helpful. To see why, consider that goal of 100% renewable energy. It makes solving climate change seem easy. In fact, though wind and solar can generate the whole country's electricity some day, renewables still account for less than 8% of the world's total power output. Moreover, cleaning up electricity is only part of the battle. Even though gas-fired heating and cooking can be at least as big a source of greenhouse-gas emissions, renewable heating gets little attention. Transport policy is unpredictable, too. Carmakers may hit their goal of annual sales of 10 million electric vehicles in a decade, but battery-powered road transport, shipping and aviation are dreams. A much-quoted claim that America could rely on wind, solar and hydro alone for its electricity has recently been bitterly criticized by a group of respected academics.
Most importantly, a 100% renewables target confuses means with ends. The priority for the planet is to stop net emissions(净排放量)of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. Putting too much emphasis on wind, solar and other renewables may block off better carbon-reduction paths. New technologies, such as "direct air capture" systems designed to separate carbon dioxide from the air, may in time prove vital. Likewise, greater energy efficiency could reduce emissions by even more than using renewables would.
1. Why is Germany mentioned in Paragraph 1?A.To introduce the topic. |
B.To compare with the USA. |
C.To prove the possibility of the 100% renewables target. |
D.To provide a successful example of producing clean energy. |
A.A tough fight against climate change. |
B.A promising future of clean energy. |
C.A huge market of electric vehicles. |
D.A fierce competition between countries. |
A.Car makers cannot produce enough batteries. |
B.Use of traditional energies causes air pollution. |
C.Wind and solar energy will never meet the needs of a country. |
D.New energy doesn't receive its due attention in every aspect of society. |
A.New energy plays a minor role in reality. |
B.Energy efficiency is prior to using renewables. |
C.Mxiing up means with purposes matters most. |
D.The target of 100 renewables is too high to reach. |
A custom may take generations to form, especially in terms of choosing symbolic food for a holiday. But eating birthday noodles in China for National Day is a new custom,
The Chinese have been eating and developing various kinds of noodles
Many video bloggers and official accounts took the chance to
4 . In high school, Dad got me to play rugby in the first place. I enjoyed throwing the ball around, but I didn't think I had what it
Four years of efforts came down to my last game. I urged my dad to bring our
I
I couldn't wait to
"I'm sorry,” he said, "I
A.paid | B.took | C.gained | D.deserved |
A.as | B.although | C.if | D.unless |
A.rarely | B.definitely | C.constantly | D.usually |
A.uniform | B.album | C.camera | D.mask |
A.glared | B.waved | C.rushed | D.laughed |
A.accompanied | B.tricked | C.dragged | D.led |
A.kick | B.impact | C.behavior | D.performance |
A.detect | B.monitor | C.record | D.experience |
A.broke up | B.lined up | C.made up | D.shot up |
A.screaming | B.complaining | C.whispering | D.announcing |
A.ambitious | B.embarrassed | C.thrilled | D.curious |
A.failed | B.intended | C.managed | D.offered |
A.strength | B.confusion | C.guilt | D.relief |
A.fueled | B.exposed | C.decreased | D.tested |
A.improper | B.impractical | C.inaccurate | D.incomplete |
5 . What brings you happiness?
Pride isn't necessarily a terrible thing. It can bring you confidence and self-assurance, which are two great qualities that can help you lead a happy life.
When you think about addiction, you might think of alcohol or drug addiction. But there are countless other forms of addiction, too. You could be addicted to work, sugar, video games, drama, or even a harmful relationship.
It's also important to recognize that leaving your comfort zone is a good, although often unwanted idea. If you never leave your comfort zone, you'll never grow. Even though something can make you feel uncomfortable at first, it will benefit you in the long run.
A.If you're in this situation, you,ll be much happier. |
B.Always keep in mind that self-doubt has no benefits. |
C.Drop the belief that your past will always be better than the future. |
D.Whatever your desire is, it will always be a barrier to your happiness. |
E.Many people believe if they fulfilled their desires, they would be satisfied. |
F.However, your extreme pride can ruin your personal and professional relationships. |
G.Ultimately, you'll expand your horizons on who you can be and what you can achieve. |
1. 介绍校规(穿校服,按时上下学,不带手机等);
2. 制定规章制度的意义;
3. 违反制度的后果。
注意:1. 词数80左右;
2. 可适当增加情节, 以使行文连贯。
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It's a funny and true experience. Now when Mike thinks of it, he laughs a lot, but when it happened , Mike was really frightened. He is going to tell it to you. Once when Mike was a child, maybe eight years old, he had a frightening experience. Mike thinks about it frequently. He was in his house with all his family. Mike cannot remember when it happened very well, but it was possibly at Christmas. They were going to have a big supper and Mike was very happy because he liked to eat a lot. Besides, Mike hadn't eaten for a long time. Therefore, he was starving. He became very angry, because Mike saw his mother and his aunt talking for a long time. This made him angry, because Mike didn't want to wait any longer. Moreover, it was time for having supper. Weren't they starving?
"Mother, what happened with the food?" Mike asked. Then she looked at him seriously and said, "You need more patience, my honey."
"Yes," Mike replied, "I see. I need to be patient. Nevertheless, I can't be patient today, because I am starving. "
Time passed, and finally dinner was on the table. The first dish was "puchero". Puchero is one of his favorite dishes; this dish has chicken, rice, vegetables, and pork. Also, it's a very hot dish, so usually you need to wait at least half an hour before you start to eat. You can enjoy its taste better when it's not so hot. Nevertheless, when Mike saw it on the table, he got a spoon and started to eat quickly. In a moment, his face was red, and there was a strange feeling on his tongue. Mike had burned it. Immediately, Mike shouted in pain and his mother asked him, "What is the matter?"
"Mother, help me! I think my tongue is going to fall off! Send me to see the doctor. " Mike screamed crazily.
"Do not worry, my child. Your father is going to take you to the hospital, said his mother. Mike looked at his mother's face and he could tell she was concerned.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then his father and Mike went to the hospital
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Mike did it slowly. He looked at his tongue for a long time.
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8 . The definition of community has evolved (升华)for me from childhood to the young adult I am now. My mom was born in America but both her parents were from the Bahamas. It was their culture to take care of the elderly and the sick. And my mom has taught me to be caring to those around us because we're all a part of the "community" , an extension of family.
When I was 9 years old, my family moved to Cape Coral, Florida. Both mom and dad worked full-time, so they registered me to attend an after-school program at the Youth Center. Youth counselors (辅导员) would help me with my homework and play games with me and this was where my interest took root. Community service started with me giving back at the Youth Center.
Then illness struck at home. My grandmother had to have heart surgery and needed hospital treatment. This experience brought me to volunteer at Cape Coral Hospital. I asked if I could learn from the nurse how to give my grandma her medicine and it started here.
I loved being at Cape Coral Hospital. I would bring paperwork to other doctors, bring food to the patients, and make sure the patients were attended. I would help direct visitors to see patients. I would always tell what would cheer the patients up because I had built a relationship with them and their loved ones. I grew to feel the hospital was a part of my community.
After volunteering at the Youth Center and at the Hospital, I've learned that people become sort of an extended family when you care about them. Now I am more considerate of those close to me, neighbors and even strangers who share my resources.
1. Who might be the first to expose the author to the sense of community?A.Counselors at the Youth Center. |
B.Nurses at Cape Coral Hospital. |
C.Her grandparents. |
D.Her mother. |
A.They were too busy to take care of her. |
B.They wanted her to do community service. |
C.The author couldn't finish her homework on her own. |
D.Becoming a counselor was the author's childhood dream. |
A.Cheer the patients up. |
B.Bring food to the patients. |
C.Help direct visitors to see patients. |
D.Serve medicine to her grandmother. |
A.I Love Volunteering | B.Community Is Family |
C.My Volunteer Experiences | D.My Community and My Family |
9 . The UK's music festivals are world famous but there are plenty more to celebrate in the country.
Burns Night, Scotland
On 25 January, Scots celebrate the life and works of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns by holding a special Burns Supper. This can be a chance for friends to get together with a huge formal dinner. Guests take it in turn to recite Burns' poems or sing one of his songs.
Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales
For 10 days each May, the small town of Hay on-Wye on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales is filled with writers, filmmakers, musicians, and people who come to hear them talk and exchange ideas. The festival celebrates great writing of all genres (体裁) and it all takes place in a village in the town.
Camp Festival, Dorset
As a branch of a festival held in Dorset, it's one of the best family festivals in the UK Held every year in the grounds of the historic Lulworth Castle in Dorset, the festival includes top live music acts, but as the organizer say, “kids are king” at Camp Festival, with a wide variety of entertainment, workshops and fun for kids. The 2020 Camp Festival takes place from 25 to 28 July.
Guy Fawkes Day or “Bonfire Night”
All over the UK on 5 November, the British light bonfires and set off fireworks in their back gardens or, more commonly these days, at organized events in public parks. They celebrate the Catholic Guy Fawkes' failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament (议会院) on 5 November, 1605.
1. Which festivals are related to literature (文学)?A.Hay Festival and Camp Festival. | B.Bums Night and Hay Festival. |
C.Burs Night and Guy Fawkes Day. | D.Camp Festival and Guy Fawkes Day. |
A.In July. | B.In May. | C.In January. | D.In November. |
A.An impressive building. | B.A successful adventure. |
C.An organized game. | D.A historical event. |