1 . I was ready to pay for my bananas at the grocery one night, when fear seized me. My wallet was gone. I could only have left it on the G9 bus, which was now speeding in the dark to some
The heart-stopping moment was quickly followed by mental math. How much time and money would it cost to replace the contents of that little wallet? The credit cards, the driver’s license, the cash, all lost to the bus.
Two hours later, back at my house, I heard a knock on the door. My husband
After sharing the story online, I heard from someone, who identified the lady as Erin Smith. Without
This one stranger responded beautifully to my small
| A．famous | B．unknown | C．familiar | D．convenient |
| A．ignored | B．interrupted | C．examined | D．answered |
| A．still | B．ever | C．yet | D．even |
| A．delay | B．question | C．regret | D．invitation |
| A．threw | B．placed | C．opened | D．spotted |
| A．selfless | B．risky | C．delightful | D．personal |
| A．crisis | B．danger | C．encounter | D．failure |
| A．exchanged | B．recalled | C．whispered | D．repeat |
| A．Going away | B．Turning around | C．Looking back | D．Coming along |
| A．longing | B．grateful | C．concerned | D．enthusiastic |
2 . Studying a subject that you feel pointless is never a fun or easy task. If you’re studying history, asking yourself the question “why is history important” is a very good first step. History is an essential part of human civilization. You will find something here that will arouse your interest, or get you thinking about the significance of history.
History grounds us in our roots. History is an important and interesting field of study, and learning the history of our home country can give us a deeper, more meaningful glimpse (一瞥) into our ancestral pasts, and how we got to where we are today. Many people feel like they need a sense of cultural belonging, which is something that studying your roots and being open-minded to the evolution (演变) of your culture can provide.
History enriches our experience. Reading history is an amazing experience because it enables us to reflect on the social and economic life of the people living long time ago. According to the experts, problems faced by people regardless of the past and present are the same. With the information about the ancestors, one can become more experienced in handling challenges of life.
History makes us more empathetic (具有共情能力的). Studying history can give us insight (洞察力) into why our culture does certain things, and how the past has shaped it into what we know now. It also provides a rather strong foundation for empathy across cultures. Fear and hate for others is usually caused by ignorance (无知). We’re scared of the things that we don’t understand. History has the potential to break down those boundaries by offering us insight into entire worlds that would otherwise be foreign to us.
History can inspire us to learn more. What’s fantastic about history is the way it broadens our horizons. It’s almost impossible to learn about one historical period without having dozens of questions about related concepts. Study the 19re century England, and you might catch a glimpse of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Look up Charles Dickens, and you might learn a thing or two about realism. Or maybe you end up switching your attention away from novels, and discover the history of romantic poets in England. It can go anywhere, and there is something in there for absolutely anybody.
The value of history cannot be underestimated. We don’t have to live in the past, but we can definitely do better by learning from it and using the lessons learnt to lead more meaningful lives.
1. People can get a sense of cultural belonging by studying history and _______.| A．thinking about the meaning of it |
| B．accepting the development of culture |
| C．analyzing how they get to the present state |
| D．reflecting on their social and economic life |
| A．It is difficult to get rid of cultural barriers. |
| B．People are willing to accept foreign cultures. |
| C．Cultural conflicts in history are difficult to ignore. |
| D．History helps us improve our cross-cultural awareness. |
| A．How to Build Cultural Identity | B．Why Studying History Matters |
| C．Know the Past, Know the Present | D．History: a Way to Broaden Horizons |
3 . Before you head out to a fun event where there will be many people, you should be aware of the dangers of a crowd crush (拥挤的人群), whose possibility adds up during the festivals or on some celebrating occasions.
Though the risk of crowd crush is rare, it can be deadly when it happens. Crowd crush occurs when many people are packed together and begin to fall over one another. In the past, such instances have caused horrible injury and even death.
Before attending a crowded event, look up a map of the venue.
Helping others is another great way to keep everyone safe. Once one person falls down, more people tend to fall over them.
A common cause of death in a crowd crush isn’t being crushed but rather losing air. It’s best to hold out your arms in front of your chest.
There is usually fun where the crowds are, so enjoy yourself. But meanwhile, it is also important to remember to stay alert and take care of your family members when you sense the smell of danger.
| A．If you do end up in a crush, here’s how you can stay safe. |
| B．This allows space between you and the person in front of you. |
| C．So if your neighbor in the crowd falls to the ground, help them up. |
| D．Seeking for a safer place takes some time and is sometimes challenging. |
| E．To avoid such an outcome, it’s best to escape the crush before it happens. |
| F．The shortage of air means less oxygen, which will lead to serious consequences. |
| G．This will give you an idea of the surroundings—pay special attention to any exits. |
1.活动目的；
2.时间、地点及内容；
3.希望与呼吁。
注意：1. 词数 100左右；
2.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
NOTICE
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Students’ Union
April 26th, 2024
AI art, aka (又名) computation art or generative art, refers to the creation of any artwork through the use of artificial intelligence programs. This can include art forms like music, photography and video, but in this article we’ll focus on 2D and 3D illustrative art.
AI art should not be confused with digital art, which refers to artworks created using any type of digital software. Typically, with digital art, the creator has to employ some level of artistic skill and technique, and understand how to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator.
With AI art, in contrast, you typically only have to type in a text prompt (提示词). A finished artwork is then created by generative AI algorithms without any further input needed.
AI art is controversial (有争议的) within the art and design professions for two main reasons. Firstly, and most obviously, allowing people to generate art through software means they’re less likely to pay someone to create it by hand. And that’s inevitably (不可避免的) going to lead to job losses and the loss of freelance work to professional artists. The second reason is that AI art generators are trained on art made by humans. Yet in most cases, these artists have not been paid for this sampling of their work. And by copying their style, which they may have taken decades of hard work to develop, AI art generators are arguably carrying out the biggest copyright theft in history.
It all reminds us of the story of how an aging Pablo Picasso was one day sketching (素描) in a park. A woman approached him and asked him to sketch her. The famous artist took one look at her, and dashed off an abstract likeness in seconds. She loved it, and asked how much she should pay. “5,000 francs,” he replied. “Why so expensive?” she cried in shock. “It took you less than a minute!” He replied: “No, Madame, it took me a lifetime.”
The artist community is now in a similar position, on a massive scale. AI art generators are taking out the equivalent of 5,000 francs of value multiple times a second, and yet artists aren’t getting a penny. A number of court cases are testing out this argument in court.
1. What is AI art?2. With digital art, what does the creator have to do?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
➢The author tells the story of Pablo Picasso to show that he is a very great artist
4. Are you a supporter of AI art? Why or why not? (In about 40 words)
6 . According to a new Agriculture Department report, U. S. forests could exacerbate global warming because they are being destroyed by natural disasters and are losing their ability to absorb planet-warming gases as they get older. The report predicts that the ability of forests to absorb carbon will start declining after 2025 and that forests could release up to 100 million metric tons of carbon a year as their emissions (排放) from decaying (腐烂的) trees go beyond their carbon absorption. Forests could become a “substantial carbon source” by 2070, the USDA report says.
The loss of carbon absorption is driven in part by natural disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes, which are increasing in frequency and strength as global temperatures rise. The disasters destroy forestland, destroying their ecosystem and decreasing their ability to absorb carbon, according to Lynn Riley, a senior manager of climate science at the American Forest Foundation. Aging forests also contribute. The report found that older, mature trees absorb less carbon than younger trees of the same species, and U. S. forests are rapidly aging.
This trend is likely to continue, as forests come under increasing threat from climate change and exploitation (开采). The typical tropical (热带的) forest may become a carbon source by the 2060s, according to Simon Lewis, professor in the school of geography at Leeds University. “Humans have been lucky so far, as tropical forests are cleaning up lots of our pollution, but they can’t keep doing that indefinitely,” he said. “We need to cut down fossil fuel emissions before the global carbon cycle starts working against us.”
U. S. forests currently absorb 11 percent of U. S. carbon emissions, or 150 million metric tons of carbon a year, equal to the combined emissions from 40 coal power plants, according to the report. The loss of forests as natural carbon absorbers will require the U. S. to cut emissions more rapidly to reach net zero. “As we work to decarbonize (碳减排), forests are one of the greatest tools at our handling. If we were to lose that, it means we will contribute that much more in emissions.” Riley said.
1. What does the underlined word “exacerbate” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Relieve. | B．Worsen. | C．Address. | D．Measure. |
| A．The key role of forests in the ecosystem. |
| B．The consequences of frequent natural disasters. |
| C．The impact of rising global temperatures on forests. |
| D．The reasons for forests’ declining ability to absorb carbon. |
| A．Reducing fossil fuel emissions. | B．Dealing with decaying trees in time. |
| C．Planting younger trees on a large scale. | D．Limiting the exploitation of forest resources. |
| A．To stress the significance of forests. |
| B．To offer suggestions on forest management. |
| C．To present the efforts the U. S. has made to reach net zero. |
| D．To show the increasing carbon emissions from coal power plants. |
Most people believe when they live comfortably and earn enough money, they will have worries. However, most people never feel they
1．活动时间和地点；
2．活动目的和内容。
注意：1．词数 100左右；
2．开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Jim,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
9 . From birth, every person needs other human beings. Babies need to be cared for to survive. Their first connections usually come from parents and other family members. But as children grow up, they spend more time with others. And they may or may not feel connected to the people they see every day. Some people feel different from or rejected by their neighbors, people they work with or even their families. People who don’t feel like they belong often feel lonely, even when others are around.
People find different ways to meet their natural desire to belong to a group. Some rely on their families while others find communities based on other interests. These can include shared goals, life experiences or popular culture.
You need others for many reasons. Community members can offer advice or practical help when you go through difficult times. You can also grow as a person from helping others
So what can you do if you lack a sense of belonging? The first step will usually be to make a conscious effort to reach out to others. You could join groups based on interests you share. Or you could contact an individual with whom you have something in common and decide when to meet up. This may be uncomfortable at first, but as with most things, it becomes easier with practice. Focusing on others more than on yourself may help. Ask questions that show you care about others’ lives. This will help them feel valued. If you are shy, it will spare you from having to talk about yourself too much.
Finding community requires a willingness to accept others. But it is also important to remain true to yourself. If a person always hides his or her true thoughts and feelings to fit in, how could he or she feel a sense of belonging? And it will be much easier if you ask yourself what matters most to you.
Finding a place where you belong may not be easy. But it will help you live a happier, more fulfilled life. So if you are the one looking for it, don’t lose heart easily since it truly deserves the effort.
1. Where are babies’ first connections usually from?2. Why do you need others?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶Focusing on others more than on yourself may help when you are finding community, so you should ignore your true feelings or thoughts during this process.
4. Give an example to illustrate what benefit(s) having a sense of belonging has brought you. (In about 40 words)
10 . In this age of social media, everyone has followed the review trend. Nearly every business or website persuades customers to leave reviews as they can drive traffic to the site or business. The online business directory Yelp, which gets 178 million monthly visitors, invites anyone with a cellphone to leave a review of a business or restaurant. But by no means are negative reviews always honest. Some people threaten to give a bad review to extort (敲诈) discounted or free food from a restaurant. Some then follow through when their demands are not met.
But there are two sides to every story. One Denver chef decided to respond to bad reviews at his restaurant. As it turned out, some customers who left bad review s deserved bad reviews themselves. One customer’s terrible review claimed that the food at the restaurant was so awful that he didn’t eat a single bite. The chef looked through the monitor and found clear evidence that he had eaten every bite! In response, the chef called out the dissatisfied customer in his own negative review. Since the chef started responding to all his negative reviews, business at his restaurant has nearly doubled.
Telling people what you think of them as the result of a bad review can backfire on you, especially when a bad review is justified. Reviews are important because 94 percent of diners read online review s before they decide where to eat.
But bad reviews appear for many reasons. The reviewer may be having a bad day, or the chef may be sick and the substitute (代替者) couldn’t fill his shoes, so the cuisine suffered. Or perhaps the service wasn’t as good as usual. The worst-case scene is that the reviewer wants to punish the restaurant on purpose for some slight, real or imagined. So one or two bad reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. Many negative reviews, however, indicate a problem.
So what is a restauranteur to do? First give an honest assessment of any negative reviews. Take a step back and ask if the writer has made any valid points. Are there areas for improvement? If the answer is yes, make adjustments. Reviewers themselves need to be honest and constructive. The goal should be to improve the situation, not just blow off steam.
1. The author mentions Yelp in Paragraph 1 to ______.| A．introduce the topic | B．predict the ending |
| C．evaluate an argument | D．support a statement |
| A．positive | B．objective | C．negative | D．doubtful |
| A．Philosophical. | B．Identical. | C．Reasonable. | D．Legal. |
| A．Who to Be Responsible for Bad Reviews? | B．When to Respond to Bad Reviews? |
| C．How to Criticise Bad Reviews? | D．What to Do with Bad Reviews? |
