2 . Blind people have long desired for brightness, but scientists don’t have the technology. To bring that one step closer to reality, Zhiyong Fan, a materials scientist of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, developed a new artificial eye recently. The device, which is about as sensitive to light and has sharper vision and a faster reaction time than a real eyeball, may outperform human eyes.

The human eye owes its wide field of view and clear eyesight to the retina (视网膜) — an area at the back of the eyeball covered in light-detecting cells. The design for a new artificial eye is based on the structure of the human eye and uses a friendly light-sensitive material. At the back of the eyeball, an artificial retina is lined with Nan scale light sensors (纳米级光感器). Those sensors measure light that passes through the lens (晶状体) at the front of the eye. Wires attached to the back of the retina send signals from those sensors to the processor, similar to the way nerve networks connect the eyeball to the brain.

“In the future, we can use this to replace damaged human eyes,” says the lead designer. In theory, this artificial eye could see more clearly than the human eye, because the artificial retina contains about 460 million light sensors per square centimeter while a real retina has about 10 million light-detecting cells per square centimeter. Besides, the artificial eyeball records changes in lighting faster than human eyes can — within about 30 to 40 milliseconds, rather than 40 to 150 milliseconds. Although its 100-degree field of view isn’t as broad as the150 degrees a human eye can take in, the device can see as well as the human eye in poor light.

Hongrui Jiang, an electrical engineer at the University of Wisconsin, though, thinks engineers need a much more practical and efficient way to produce vast series of tiny wires on the back of the artificial eyeball to give it superhuman sight, which is super hard to achieve.

1. Why does Zhiyong Fan develop the artificial eye?

A．To replace people’s real eyeballs.	B．To gain a sharper vision.
C．To help the blind regain their eyesight.	D．To help normal eyes perform better.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The design of the artificial eye.	B．The structure of the human eye.
C．The advantages of the artificial eye.	D．The material used for the artificial eye.

3. What can we learn about the artificial eye and the human eye?

A．They have the same structure.

B．The artificial eye may see more clearly.

C．The human eye sees better in weak light.

D．The artificial eye takes in a broader view.

4. Which word best describes Hongrui Jiang’s attitude to the artificial eye?

A．Doubtful.

B．Favorable.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Satisfied.

3 . “Woman reading book, under a night sky, dreamy atmosphere,” I type into Deep Dream Generator’s Text 2 Dream feature. In less than a minute, an image is returned to me showing what I’ve described.

Welcome to the world of AI image generation, where you can create what on the surface looks like top-rank artwork using just a few text prompts (提示). But closer examination shows oddities. The face of the woman in my image has very odd features, and appears to be holding multiple books. And, while there’s an initial thrill at seeing an image appear, there’s no creative satisfaction.

AI image generation could influence everything from film to graphic novels and more. Children’s illustrators were quick to raise concerns about the technology. They say AI-generated art is the exact opposite of what art is believed to be. Fundamentally, art is all about translating something that you feel internally into something that exists externally. Whatever form it takes, true art is about the creative process much more than it’s about the final piece. And simply pressing a button to generate an image is not a creative process.

Beyond creativity, there are deeper issues. To create images from prompts, AI generators rely on databases of already existing art and text. This could lead to the creation of images that are intentionally meant to imitate the style of other artists, without their agreement. There is an argument that AI generators work no differently to humans when it comes to being influenced by others’ work. However, a human artist is also adding emotion and nuance (细微差别) into the mix. AI doesn’t do the same — it can only copy.

The increasing use of AI will also lead to a devaluing (贬低) of the work of artists. There’s already a negative prejudice towards the creative industry. People will begin to think that their “work” is as excellent as that created by someone who has spent a career making art. It’s nonsense, of course. You can use your mobile phone to take a nice picture of your daughter, but you are no match for professionals.

1. What does the writer think of his image creation?

A．Exciting.	B．Appealing
C．Unsatisfying.	D．Shocking.

2. What do children’s illustrators value most about art?

A．The creating process.	B．The final work.
C．Personal feelings.	D．External forms.

3. What is Paragraph 4 of the text mainly about?

A．The styles of human artworks and AI ones.

B．Human artists’ influence on AI generators.

C．Different means used in human and AI art creation.

D．The drawbacks of drawing from existing art and text.

4. Which of the following best summarizes the last paragraph?

A．Art is the mirror of life.	B．Rome is not built in a day.
C．No man can do two things at once.	D．Don’t judge a book by its cover.

4 . 语法填空

Some inventions happen in strange ways. The potato chip is one of them.

Moon’s Lake House was     1     restaurant in New York in the 1850s. George Crum was the cook there. Many rich people often came to the restaurant     2     (enjoy) his cooking.

The one thing that really upset Crum was     3     a customer complained about the food and sent it back to the kitchen to be done over. He would often return it overcooked. He was happy to see the customer walk out of the restaurant     4     (angry).

On August 24, 1853, a customer returned his fried potatoes to the kitchen,     5     they weren’t crunchy (脆的) enough. Crum reacted in his     6     (usually) way. He cut the potatoes very thin and cooked them in hot oil. They were so crunchy and Crum was sure that the man would refuse     7     (eat) them. Instead, the man loved them. He even asked for more.

Now, do you know     8     invented the potato chip? It’s George Crum! He     9     (late) set up his own restaurant. He named it Crum’s House. He put baskets of his potato chips on all the tables. They made his restaurant a very popular place.

Today, potato chips are one of Americans’     10     (favor) foods!

5 . A very big earth struck Tangshan ______ July 28, 1976.

A．at

B．in

C．for

D．on

9 . David is very noisy ______ Katy is rather quiet.

A．while

B．since

C．so

D．or

10 . ______ more information about our university, please visit our website.

A．Got

B．Getting

C．Get

D．To get