1 . 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。

A blogger from Sichuan, nicknamed “AI Crazy House,”     1     (release) an AI-generated animated short film of “Journey to the West”     2     the Internet. The film shocked netizens with its visual effects and opened up new     3     (possibility) for presenting classic works in film and television.

Through deep learning and innovative techniques, AI reinterpreted this Chinese literary masterpiece,     4     (deliver) breathtaking visual effects and emotional experiences.

The blogger, Mr. Feng, has 15 years of art experience. He stated that the video,     5     would have taken at least six months to produce manually, was completed in a week with the help of AI.

He also explained the steps     6     (generate) videos with AI. Taking the first episode of “Journey to the West” as     7     example, from the beginning of chaos to the birth of the stone monkey to the learning of art, he emphasized the need to determine the required number of pictures and storyboards.

He mentioned using ChatGPT to analyze the original text, complete storyboard planning, use AI painting software for drawing,     8     then employ “picture-to-video” software to animate the images.

These processes     9     (general) produce a large number of preliminary drafts. “At present, it is difficult for AI     10     (understand) my meaning.” Mr. Feng said.

2 . The year 2023 witnessed the occurrence of significant cultural events, with culture and tourism becoming even more closely connected. Let’s review the major cultural events of 2023 as we bid farewell to the year and embrace the new year of 2024!

Museum visits rise in popularity in summer

Tourists were seen queuing for long hours in front of museums and obtaining entrance tickets became more challenging. In response to the growing demand, 46 museums in Beijing canceled their customary Monday closures and remained open daily until August 31. The rise in “museum fever” can be credited to various factors, including the public’s increasing enthusiasm for traditional Chinese culture, the booming market for youth educational tours and summer camps, as well as the continuous innovation of museums.

Old tea forests in Pu’er win World Heritage Site title

The newly named heritage site, located in Lancang Lahu autonomous county in Pu’er, Yunnan province, consists of five large-scale, well-preserved old tea forests, which stand 1,250 to 1,500 meters above the sea level, three protective barrier forests, and nine ancient villages in the old tea forests, which are mainly inhabited by Blang and Dai ethnic groups. The cultural landscape was jointly created by the ancestors of the Blang people—who immigrated to the Jingmai Mountain in the 10th century AD and later discovered and domesticated wild tea trees—and the native Dai people.

Protection plan released for Beijing’s Central Axis

The plan is said to be one of the necessary steps toward bidding for UNESCO World Heritage status. Alongside regulations on the protection of the Central Axis carried out earlier, the plan is in line with the requirements of World Heritage conservation. The 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee will decide on whether Beijing’s Central Axis can be added to the World Heritage List at the committee’s 46th annual conference in 2024. If the application succeeds, it will reinforce Beijing’s top position among cities worldwide by number of World Heritage Sites.

1. Which of the following is NOT the reason for the rise in “museum fever”?

A．Museums’ ceaseless innovation.

B．The constant innovation of summer camps.

C．The growing market for youth educational tours.

D．People’s growing passion for traditional Chinese culture.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning the cultural events?

A．46 museums in Beijing stayed open all year round.

B．The Blang people are the natives in Jingmai Mountain.

C．The heritage site in Pu’er consists of four large old tea forests.

D．Beijing’s Central Axis hasn’t been added to the World Heritage List yet.

3. In which magazine would a reader most likely find this text?

A．Wonders of the Natural World	B．Scientific Exploration
C．Chinese Culture Research	D．Art and Architecture

3 . Rejection doesn’t always hurt. Sometimes rejection may _________ a more certain path to our final goals.

This year football fans have been watching to see how Joe would _________ in the playoffs(季后赛) this season. Joe dreamed to play in the National Football League (NFL), but his journey wasn’t a(n) _________ one. He applied to several colleges, but none _________ him. Later, he got into Ohio State, but he sat on the _________ for three years. Ohio State had a great football program and coaches, who didn’t think Joe had _________. But Joe thought differently. He _________ Nebraska and got rejected once again, but he didn’t quit. Then he applied to Louisiana State University, which accepted him. The rest is history.

Joe became the Heisman Trophy _________ during his senior year, then he was admitted to the NFL, and later, his team participated in the World Championship.

Joe’s story reminds us that there are _________ paths to our final goals and that it __________ strong endurance and determination to reach them. No single __________ is going to prevent you from __________ your long-term goals. Be sure to__________ the pain that comes from disappointment and face it bravely. Try to focus on goals rather than the __________ outcome of being rejected and remember that the hurt of rejection comes from how we __________ it.

1.

A．follow

B．lead

C．create

D．clear

2.

A．study

B．perform

C．train

D．join

3.

A．tough

B．fun

C．attractive

D．easy

4.

A．accepted

B．remembered

C．rejected

D．ignored

5.

A．bench

B．stand

C．team

D．stage

6.

A．chance

B．resource

C．potential

D．enthusiasm

7.

A．signed up for

B．applied to

C．attended to

D．searched for

8.

A．fan

B．adviser

C．learner

D．winner

9.

A．similar

B．smooth

C．multiple

D．flat

10.

A．costs

B．takes

C．makes

D．offers

11.

A．theory

B．training

C．rejection

D．excuse

12.

A．achieving

B．planning

C．announcing

D．explaining

13.

A．affect

B．emphasize

C．estimate

D．acknowledge

14.

A．active

B．negative

C．possible

D．predictable

15.

A．interpret

B．imagine

C．explore

D．escape

4 . At present, there are over 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants around the world, but it started out as a small one. The McDonald brothers, Dick and Mac, opened the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, California in 1948. The menu included hamburgers, soft drinks, pie, French fries, milk, coffee and milkshakes. Ray Kroc, a travel salesman, visited the store and became interested in it. The brothers said that they wanted to open stores in the whole country, and then Kroc became their first franchise agent (特许经销商) in 1954. Kroc opened up a restaurant for McDonald’s on April 15, 1955. That store came with a lot of difficulties in the beginning.

After dealing with the difficulties, McDonald’s started to spread to all over the United States. The McDonald brothers wanted to show their Speed Service System-what we call fast food. Customers were served at large windows in the front of the building. The houses of the first restaurants were red and white with two golden arches(拱)on the side to make the roof look less flat.

The McDonald’s menu in 1977 shows how different its food choices are from today. What’s more, today McDonald’s have digital screens to show menus again and again.

In 1969 McDonald’s changed the style of restaurants. This change is found on the first McDonald’s in Moscow, Russia in 1990. Crowds line up outside to get their first taste of a Big Mac.

With billions of people served, McDonald’s has played an attractive role shaping international culture since its first restaurant opened.

1. When was McDonald’s first set up?

A．In 1955.

B．In 1954.

C．In 1948.

D．In 1977.

2. What led Ray Kroc to be McDonald’s first franchise agent?

A．The brothers’ wish.	B．His experience of running restaurants.
C．His interest in traveling.	D．One of the customers’ advice.

3. Why did the first McDonald’s houses have two golden arches on the side?

A．The arches can show their difference in the USA.

B．Customers liked large windows.

C．Customers enjoyed arches.

D．The arches can make the roof look less flat.

4. What can we learn from the McDonald’s menu of 1977?

A．It is very popular at that time.	B．It is different from today’s food choice.
C．The reason why it was popular.	D．The change of McDonald’s style.

5 . The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational technology (EdTech) has brought incomparable convenience and efficiency to classrooms worldwide. However, despite these advancements, it is crucial to recognize the challenges these AI-driven tools pose to the autonomy and professional judgment of instructors.

One of its primary concerns is the depersonalization of instruction. These tools often rely on pre-packaged digital content and standardized solutions, leaving insufficient room for instructors to tailor their teaching methods. Each student possesses unique characteristics. Instructors, armed with their wealth of experience and knowledge, are best positioned to tailor their approaches to these individual needs. However, AI-driven tools restrict their ability to do so effectively, resulting in a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to inspire students to reach their maximum potential.

EdTech companies offer step-by-step solutions to textbook problems. These are intended to act as study aids. However, some students employ this feature as a means to merely copy solutions without comprehending concepts. Consequently, instances of cheating on assignments and exams become widespread. While these tools may offer convenience, students may use external resources or cooperate with others during quizzes, affecting the honesty of their learning outcomes.

The implications of this depersonalization and the increase in academic dishonesty are far-reaching. By decreasing the role of instructors as facilitators of meaningful educational interactions, we run the risk of preventing the growth of critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Education should not only focus on knowledge acquisition, but should also develop the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. It should help one’s mind grow, not simply memorize information. Through dynamic classroom discussions, cooperative projects, and hands-on activities, instructors play a crucial role in developing these essential skills.

While AI-driven EdTech tools undeniably have their virtues, we must not lose sight of the importance of preserving instructor autonomy and educational experience. Instead of relying only on pre-packaged content and standardized solutions, these tools should be designed to empower instructors to adapt and customize their approaches while taking full advantage of the benefits of technology.

1. What do the underlined words “the depersonalization of instruction” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Tailored methods for individuals.	B．Instructors’ dependence on Al.
C．Insufficient resources of Al-driven tools.	D．The one-size-fits-all approach.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．A possible solution.

B．A further problem.

C．A well-meant intention.

D．A suggested application

3. In what aspect do students suffer most with AI-driven EdTech education?

A．Thinking skills.	B．Teamwork building.
C．Interest development.	D．Knowledge acquisition.

4. What is conveyed about Al-driven EdTech tools in the last paragraph?

A．They should be used widely.

B．Their benefits deserve our attention.

C．Their resources need enriching.

D．They should support instructor autonomy.

6 . Household chores like cooking, cleaning, washing the dishes, and making the bed are never done; they just get repeated like a broken record. Boring!     1    . But there are science-based reasons for changing your attitude towards chores. It turns out that doing chores is great for your health.

    2    . As researchers state in a report, doing undemanding tasks allows the mind to wander. Your mind gets a break, which allows you to consider old problems with new eyes. In fact, undemanding tasks stimulate (激发) more creative ideas than demanding tasks or just resting.

Chores are linked to a lower dementia (痴呆) risk. To discover what activities might be linked to a lower rate of dementia, researchers analyzed massive amounts of healthcare data from the UK Biobank. They found that those most engaged in household chores had a 21 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those least engaged in chores.     3    .

Finishing your chores can increase motivation. BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, states that the most important skill is recognizing and celebrating successes. Completing even a small task, like making your bed, can give you a sense of satisfaction.     4    . Similarly, author Admiral William H. McRaven argues that if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

Chores are good for children’s mental health. Children develop a sense of ownership when they have jobs to do around the house and it makes them feel like they are an important member of the household.     5    . In my own case, I bond with my daughter by gossiping (闲聊) and singing while we do chores together.

A．Chores are an opportunity for “me time”

B．Chores can lead to creative problem-solving

C．Thus, you feel motivated to deal with tasks one after another

D．In this way, they can be taught to be independent and confident

E．Like many people, you may regard chores as something annoying

F．Doing chores with children also improves the parent-child relationship

G．This result indicated simple changes could make a difference to health

7 . This week, Google researchers published a paper describing results from an AI tool built to create music. The tool, called MusicLM, is not the first AI music tool to be launched. But the examples Google provided demonstrate musical creative ability based on a limited set of descriptive words.

Several different music examples produced by MusicLM were published online. Some of the generated music came from just one- or two-word descriptions, such as “jazz”, “rock” or “techno (高科技舞曲)”. The tool also created other examples from more detailed descriptions containing whole sentences.

In one example, Google researchers included these instructions to MusicLM, “It is a soundtrack of a game. It is fast-paced and upbeat, with a catchy electric guitar riff (反复乐节). The music is repetitive and easy to remember, but with unexpected sounds ...” In the resulting recording, the music seemed to keep very close to the description. The team said the more detailed the description was, the better the system could attempt to produce it.

The MusicLM model operates similarly to the machine-learning systems used by ChatGPT. ChatGPT and MusicLM both require powerful computers to operate complex machine-learning models. The San Francisco-based company OpenAI launched ChatGPT late last year. ChatGPT has recently received a lot of attention because of its ability to generate complex writings and other content from just a simple description in natural languages. Such tools can produce human-like results because they are trained on huge amounts of data. Many different materials are fed into the systems to permit them to learn complex skills to create realistic works.

However, the MusicLM researchers said there were some risks linked to the new tool. One of the biggest issues the researchers identified was biases (偏好) present in the training data. A bias might be including too much of one side and not enough of the other. The researchers said this raised a question about appropriateness for music generation for cultures underrepresented in the training data.

1. What can we learn about MusicLM?

A．It is the first AI music tool to be launched.

B．It requires detailed descriptions of full sentences.

C．It creates music based on simple descriptive words.

D．It generates complex writings from a simple description.

2. What is the similarity between ChatGPT and MusicLM?

A．They can take the place of musicians.	B．They have gained commercial success.
C．They don't have any practical use in life.	D．They are based on huge amounts of data.

3. Which of the following is an issue of the MusicLM model?

A．Creating music with strong biases.	B．Requiring too much training data.
C．Being difficult for some people to use.	D．Producing music works with no creativity.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．The future of humans with AI	B．A new AI tool to make music
C．Music created by some AI tools	D．AI and its function in culture development

8 . Near-death accidents and summit failures have not slowed down mountaineer Saray N’ kusi Khumalo. The Zambia-born mother of two holds a corporate job, hosts a podcast, has climbed some of the tallest mountains around the world, and still has the time to run a non- profit organization that focuses on education in Africa.

“My grandfather always used to say, ‘if you don’t live a life of service, that’s a life wasted, ” she said. In 2013, she founded Summits With A Purpose in South Africa. With every climb, she raises funds to help build schools and libraries. Khumalo is not going to just climb and take a selfie. She is going to climb and then make a difference.

Not long after her first-ever summit, she turned her eyes toward the world’s tallest peak: Mt. Qomolangma, located in the Himalayas. The first three attempts were tough and heart-breaking for Khumalo: She experienced everything from natural disasters to losing consciousness in the “death zone”, Qomolangma’s top stretch over 8, 000 meters above sea level, where oxygen is dangerously low.

On May 16, 2019 —her fourth bid —she succeeded, becoming the first Black African woman to reach the summit. In total, only eight of the 4,000 people who’ve ever summited Qomolangma are Black.

Khumalo is humbled by what she’s achieved so far, but she notes, “I don’t think that I’ve broken those stereotypes yet; there’s still a lot more work to be done,” adding that representation should extend beyond the mountain tops, too.

“It’s not just about Qomolangma; it is a gift that we need to leave for the next generation wherever we are,” she says, calling on her peers to step outside their comfort zone to show that Black people belong in all spaces.

1. What can we know about Khumalo from paragraph 1?

A．She suffers from injuries.	B．She is energetic.
C．She loves her family.	D．She is struggling with life.

2. Why did she found Summits With A Purpose?

A．To make herself rich.	B．To fulfill her grandfather’s wish.
C．To raise funds for her climbing.	D．To collect money for African education.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Her life experiences.	B．The success of her climbing.
C．The hardship in climbing.	D．The conditions of the Qomolangma’s top.

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

A．To introduce a mountaineer pioneer.	B．To show a respect for mountaineers.
C．To tell the history of mountain climbing.	D．To attract more people to conquer Mt. Qomolangma.

9 . The Best Four Soccer Clubs in Toronto

Toronto is home to a number of soccer clubs. If you are interested in soccer, let’s take a look at four best soccer clubs in Toronto.

Cherry Beach Soccer Club

Cherry Beach Soccer Club, which first opened its door in 2009, now has 56 house leagues, 10 competitive teams and six adult teams. They provide 30,000 children and young people in the downtown area with high-quality and low-cost soccer lessons. It offers a recreational house league, development, and competitive soccer for those aged five to thirty.

Phone: (416)367-4359

North Soccer Club

North Soccer Club, which was established in 1980, is a welcoming environment for everyone who enjoys soccer or wants to try something new. You don’t need to be concerned about your qualifications or experience. However, to take part in practice, you must first complete a health check. It offers a Special Olympics program for players with intellectual disabilities. The fee range is from $230 to $270.

Phone:(416)924-9911

Power Soccer Club

Power Soccer Club, founded in 1996 by a former Galway United player, has grown up to be one of Canada’s most famous soccer schools. You will for sure progress in your skill development with a active and engaging training sessions. The fee can range from $210 to $315.

North York Hearts Soccer Club

North York Hearts Soccer Club was founded in 1990. This club exposes everyone who loves sports to the history of soccer with the help of a group of skilled sports coaches and professors. The fee range is from $210 to $320.

Phone: (416)650-5743

1. Which club was founded in the 21st century?

A．North Soccer Club.	B．Cherry Beach Soccer Club.
C．Power Soccer Club.	D．North York Hearts Soccer Club.

2. What is required for people to join North Soccer Club?

A．Rich experience.	B．A wise mind.
C．A health check.	D．A curious heart.

3. To learn the history of soccer, you should call ________ to sign up.

A．(416)367-4359	B．(416)650-5743
C．(416)425-6062	D．(416)924-9911

10 . 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。

The Internet has changed the world,     1    (allow) educational services to help with the global fight against     2    (poor). Khan Academy, an organization founded by Harvard Business School graduate Salman Khan with the task of “providing a world-class education to anyone, anywhere”, is one such service. The education offered there includes     3     large number of math-related topics.

    4    (similar), GMAT Pill Review is another company that trains MBA candidates worldwide to prepare for the GMAT exam. Founded by Stanford graduate Zeke Lee, the company offers services which     5    (price) at about 75% less than other programs of the same kind.

    6    , it allows students from developing countries who might not be able to afford the courses to have access     7     these services.

Whether paid or free, these services provide educational opportunities to those who would never have had the chance     8    (study) in the past. As a result of the technology revolution, business schools may see more students from different     9    (corner) of the world. Because of the Internet, people in developing nations have better and cheaper educational opportunities. More and more people will try to improve their lives through educational opportunities outside of their homeland,     10     is an idea usually uncommon in developing countries.