1 . 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.

2 . To many people, honey bees symbolize prosperity (兴旺), sustainability and environmentalism. But as a honey bee researcher, I have to tell you that only the first item on that list is defensible. Although they are important for agriculture, honey bees also destabilize naturar ecosystems by competing with native bees - some of which are species at risk.

The rise in hobby beekeeping, now a trendy activity for hundreds of thousands of Americans, followed strong awareness campaigns to “save the bees.” But as a species, honey bees are least in need of saving Sheila Colla, a conservation biologist, says, “People mistakenly think helping honey bees is somehow helping native bees. They have a surprisingly poor understanding of the diversity of pollinators (传粉者) and their roles in pollination.”

There are millions of honey bee colonies (群) in NorthAmerica. Around 30,000 bees per colony, that’s roughly a billion honey bees in Canada and the U.s. alone. Huge numbers of honey bee colonies increase competition between native pollinators, putting even more pressure on the wild species that are already in decline. Honey bees are extreme generalist foragers (觅食者), leading to exploitative competition — that is , where one species uses up a resource, not leaving enough to go around.

Alfredo Valido and Pedro Jordano, researchers from the spanish National Research Council, used the Canary Islands to study how honey bees affect the native pollinating community. In the highlands of the islands’ Teide National Park, thousands of honey bee colonies are introduced seasonally for honey production and removed again at the end of the flower season, creating an excellent condition for experimentation. Their results do not make honey bees look like the sustainability celebrities they have become. Bringing in honey bees reduced the conneetedness of the plant-pollinator networks. Besides, the resilience (恢复力) of the ecosystem has also declined.

I used to believe that honey bees were a gateway species, and that concern over their health and prosperity would spread to native bees, benefitting them, too. However, evidence shows that misguided enthusiasm for honey bees has likely been the native bees’ disaster.

1. How does the auther feel about the rise in hobby beekeeping?

A．Confused.

B．Concerned.

C．Surprised.

D．Pleased.

2. How are native pollinators affected by introduced honey bees?

A．They have trouble finding food.	B．They become generalist foragers.
C．They get protected as honey bees.	D．They fail to form their own colonies.

3. What did the experiment on the Canary Islands show concerning hone bees?

A．They fitted into the native pollinating community.

B．They improved the sustainability of the islands.

C．They slowed the recovery of the ecosystem.

D．They shortened the flower season.

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

A．The threat to honey bees	B．The problem with honey bees
C．Save the bees, save the planet	D．Focus on honey bees, not native bees

3 . Discover how you can help endangered species! Volunteer to help conserve endangered species around the world with GoEco.

Sea turtles, Sri Lanka

The species is threatened by human hunters. The Sri Lankan government has approved the creation of hatcheries (孵化场) in order to protect this species. Volunteers on this program spend 60% of their time working in the hatchery and the other 40% is spent on activities such as beach cleanups and creating awareness within the local community.

Program Fees: $1,280 for 2 weeks and $1,680 per month for volunteers.

Wildlife Rescue, Western Australia

Adult kangaroos and wallabies are hunted for food, leaving thousands of their babies without parents. Many are killed or injured in road accidents. At the wildlife rescue center in Perth, Western Australia, volunteers live and help in the bushland caring for sick, injured, and displaced animals.

Program Fee: $2,095 for four weeks. Volunteers stay on-site in a small room. Due to very limited space, applications must be sent at least 9-12 months in advance.

Endangered Species Reserve, South Africa

The project will give you an incredible wildlife experience while learning about conservation efforts. For the rest of the time between monitoring sessions, volunteers are required to enter all the data that they have collected into our databases. At times, volunteers need to operate on night shifts. We also give lectures and presentations over the lunch period.

Program Fee: $1,750 for 2 weeks

Big Cat Refuge, South Africa

As a volunteer on this project, you will be involved in a wide variety of activities. Volunteer’s work ranges from enrichment activities, such as toy-making and farm work, to educating the visitors. Volunteers will also directly care for the cats by preparing food or feeding them as well as maintaining their living space.

Program Fee: $1,450 for 2 weeks

1. What is the monthly project fee for volunteers in Sri Lanka?

A．$1,280.

B．$1,680.

C．$2,560.

D．$2,960.

2. What is required of volunteers for the project in Western Australia?

A．Having previous experience.

B．Working night shifts sometimes.

C．Applying for the project in advance.

D．Having a good knowledge of wildlife.

3. What can volunteers do for the project Big Cat Refuge?

A．Study the habits of big cats.

B．Help to sell some toys about cats.

C．Guide visitors to the habitat of the cats.

D．Do daily routines in the cats’ living space.

4 . 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

5 . 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

6 . 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.

7 . 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

8 . Our church has a way of assisting those who have financial difficulties without making the receiver feel shame or guilt by dropping money into an offering box with only the name of the receiver on the envelope. The envelopes are then distributed to those members without them knowing the _________ of the giver.

There came a time when my husband and I were among those _________. We did not talk about our financial difficulty with anyone. The only reason our _________ knew was because we had to cut back on many things._________, we hoped they were not aware of the extent of our need. We did not want to _________ them with a problem they were too young to do anything to solve.

Our situation wasn’t improving, and just as we reached the point of _________, our church gave us a gift envelope left in the offering box. We were ___________ to receive a big sum of money, enough to help us _________ that desperate time. We couldn’t help but wonder who had given such a generous gift.

A year later, our seventeen-year-old son was applying for a student loan so he could _________ university. It was then that we discovered that his savings account was almost __________.

His father and I were very disturbed by this. From the time he was nine years old, he had worked very hard for his small __________. I asked him repeatedly to tell me where the money had gone. At first he would not tell me, but I would not let the matter __________.

Finally, in tears, and with much __________, my son admitted that the year before he had put his savings in the offering box for his father and me. I stood there __________, tears filling my eyes. It had taken my son years to save that money. He had given it to us __________—without telling us what he had done.

1.

A．address

B．number

C．name

D．home

2.

A．in charge

B．in need

C．in danger

D．in condition

3.

A．neighbors

B．parents

C．friends

D．children

4.

A．Then

B．Still

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

5.

A．provide

B．assume

C．burden

D．equip

6.

A．failure

B．surprise

C．despair

D．success

7.

A．grateful

B．shameful

C．regretful

D．hopeful

8.

A．go through

B．get across

C．pass out

D．set aside

9.

A．found

B．attend

C．visit

D．manage

10.

A．expensive

B．cheap

C．full

D．empty

11.

A．surroundings

B．blessings

C．belongings

D．earnings

12.

A．off

B．alone

C．out

D．down

13.

A．willingness

B．happiness

C．hesitation

D．admiration

14.

A．speechless

B．aimless

C．tireless

D．emotionless

15.

A．resentfully

B．reluctantly

C．accidentally

D．willingly

9 . 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.

10 . 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。

I had never noticed her. She was not the kind of girl who could draw attention. She was not tall and just plain. In class, she liked sitting at the back, reading or taking notes. It was once I asked her to read aloud the text that I looked at her with new eyes when I heard her standard American pronunciation. Later on, the National College English Speech Contest would be held. I thought it over and filled in her name with a smile. I red-penciled her draft of speech, corrected her pronunciation, and even adjusted her body language.

However, I was always kind of worried because she was too introvert(内向的)and too quiet. Could she seize this rare opportunity?

On the night of the contest, I told her to take it easy. Blushed(脸红的), she looked at me and said nothing.

My heart sank. It seemed that she did tense up. I pated her and let her go to draw lots(抽签). As a result, what she drew was No. 9 while No. 8 was recognized English master-hand(高手).

Sure enough, the English master-hand was fairly successful in the speech with his humor and highly personal style. The whole audience would make a warm applause almost every 30 seconds until she appeared on the stage, still talking over his speech with excitement.

My palms began to sweat. I sat there, with no courage to look at her. It was the first time that she went up the stage, so I couldn't blame her for any slips. But at that moment, I found I was so scared of her failure.

The strong spotlight made her so small and so insignificant that nobody seemed to notice she had been on the stage, I said to myself, no hope.

But the moment that shocked me occurred. I clearly heard a voice, a very loud voice, “Now, please focus on me.” She said this sentence three times in all, louder and louder.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The whole audience fell silent.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After her speech ended for a long while, a thunderous applause sounded in the whole audience.

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