1 . In looking through your social media, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed pictures accompanied by texts. The pictures are likely made possible by a text-to-image program called DALL-E. For example, Twitter user posted a tweet with the text, “To be or not to be, rabbi holding avocado, marble sculpture.” Then a matching picture appears below.
The AI models come from Google’s Imagen software as well as OpenAI. a start-up backed by Microsoft. On its website, OpenAI calls DALL-E “a new Al system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.” But most of what’s happening in this area is coming from a relatively small group of people sharing their pictures. That’s because Google and OpenAI have not made the technology broadly available to the public.
The text-to-picture services identify the most important parts of a user’s text and then guess the best way to picture those terms. There’s generally a text box, a button to start the generation process and an area below to display images. To indicate the source. Google and OpenAI add watermarks in the bottom right comer of images from DALL-E and Imagen.
Engineers trained the models on various collections of words and pictures from the web. OpenAI recognizes the potential for harm that could come from a model. To avoid the risk, employees removed violent content from training data, and there are filters(筛选)stopping DALL-E from producing images if users submit(提交)violent or illegal content.
Boris Dayma, a developer from Texas spelled out the problems in an explanation of their software. Despite the risks, Dhariwal, a research scientist at OpenAI, said it could open up creative opportunities for individuals and could help with commercial applications for dressing up websites. Results should continue to improve over time.
1. What is the function of the the AI system DALL-E?A.Beautifying pictures at users’ request. |
B.Producing pictures from human words. |
C.Changing pictures into vivid descriptions. |
D.Providing pictures for users to choose from. |
A.Its users’ rights. | B.Its operating conditions |
C.Its working process. | D.Its company’s prospect. |
A.All images come from a unified model. |
B.The training data is selected beforehand. |
C.Improper requests can’t be submitted. |
D.Filters remove the unhealthy description. |
A.Positive. | B.Objective. | C.Uncertain. | D.Worried. |
2 . Picture the scene: you’ve spent years working towards a very specific goal. You’ve put in countless hours of work and made many efforts along the way, but now that you’ve got there it doesn’t feel quite like you imagined. Instead of celebration, you feel emptiness, confusion and doubt.
Welcome to the anti-climax. The often-experienced but seldom-discussed downside of achieving life’s biggest milestones. Many of us work tirelessly towards our goals. We may spend our lives dreaming of the day we get married, publish our first hook or buy our first home. However, oftentimes, when we achieve these things it doesn’t feel quite as expected. In fact, the achievement of these goals feels a bit of a letdown.
So why do we often experience an anti-climax with big goals, even though we’re happy to achieve them? “An anti-climax can be an unexpected by-product of a milestone achievement. Usually, the more significant the milestone, the greater the anti-climax may be. The intensity(强度)of an anti-climax often relies on what we expect of this achievement.” says Rachel Vora. a psychotherapist(心理治疗师).“The journey to achieving a milestone can he exciting and tiring in addition to giving us a sense of purpose and focus. Therefore, when this disappears overnight. we can often feel lost and confused, in spite of feeling proud of our achievement.
When this happens it can contribute to a mixture of emotions. We often falsely believe that we’ll feel completely different afterwards or that our feelings of low self-worth will disappear, but this is rarely the case. “Clients(客户)often present to me with an extremely great sense of ‘is this it?’ and ‘what now?’.” says Vora. “These feelings of confusion and disappointment, if let ignored, have the potential to cause clients to be in low spirits, or even worse.”
1. Why does the author mention the examples in paragraph 2?A.To present a fact. | B.To prove a rule. |
C.To explain a term. | D.To make a prediction. |
A.Low self-worth. | B.High expectations. |
C.Sense of purpose. | D.Unexpected achievements. |
A.Amy felt empty before giving a speech. |
B.Jack felt lost after his first novel came out. |
C.Mary felt proud when she joined a ballet club. |
D.Tom felt doubtful about taking further education. |
A.How to hold back feelings. |
B.How to improve self-worth. |
C.Hon to identify the anti-climax. |
D.How to deal with the anti-climax. |
3 . When water is cold, people will find it uncomfortable to swim. Wetsuits(潜水服)can help keep people warm.
The wetsuit doesn't have a long history. According to studies, the wetsuit only began during WWII when Italians started wearing wetsuits that were made of rubber. And it was widely believed in 1951, Hugh Bradner began working to improve the equipment.
Now there are many kinds of wetsuits. Contrary to what some may think, wetsuits do not work by keeping the diver(潜水员)dry; they are designed to let water into the suit. This thin layer of water is trapped(保存)between the diver and the suit. And it's allowed to move between the skin of the diver and the inside layer.
Wetsuits can also differ in thickness. They range from about 0. 5mm to 8mm in thickness. It's true that thicker wetsuits are more likely to affect your movement.
A.But they're much better at giving you warmth. |
B.As for the difference, wetsuits can differ in size. |
C.The history of the wetsuit is an interesting story. |
D.This led to the development of a kind of new wetsuit. |
E.Many wetsuits are very light and easy to wear and take off. |
F.As a result, the water gradually warms up to body temperature. |
G.And they can provide protection from the sun and cuts from rocks. |
4 . When I was a practice teacher in a middle school,the students in my class were always making
The evening before I would teach all by myself,I gave a piece of paper to everyone. I told them to write
I turned the cardboard case with the bottom(底部)towards the students,and told them calmly what each one had written on the paper. The students were surprised,
I told them the truth and they were
A.progress | B.troubles | C.faces | D.efforts |
A.something | B.nothing | C.all | D.them |
A.methods | B.attitudes | C.feelings | D.interest |
A.that | B.how | C.when | D.what |
A.thought | B.seen | C.written | D.heard |
A.would | B.needed | C.had to | D.might |
A.with | B.for | C.to | D.as |
A.after | B.when | C.until | D.now that |
A.put | B.left | C.had | D.gave |
A.knowing | B.believing | C.seeing | D.hearing |
A.names | B.faces | C.characters | D.handwritings |
A.frightened | B.angry | C.sad | D.amazed |
A.corner | B.bottom | C.top | D.side |
A.in | B.for | C.with | D.to |
A.it | B.that | C.them | D.those |
A.given | B.handed | C.passed | D.offered |
A.expensive | B.useful | C.another | D.smelly |
A.made | B.seen | C.found | D.looked |
A.From then on | B.However | C.Though | D.So far |
A.a lot of | B.a lot | C.partly | D.greatly |
5 . After a two-hour flight from Shanghai and an hour’s drive, I reached my destination: Jielingkou Village in Qinhuangdao City of Hebei Province, China. The tiny and
In 2018, an anti-poverty project began in the village, with the
But gaining the locals’
Ge said he hopes that as conditions are
A.rich | B.great | C.old | D.nearby |
A.reach | B.significance | C.view | D.control |
A.cost | B.knowledge | C.favor | D.goal |
A.increasing | B.ignoring | C.considering | D.deciding |
A.benefits | B.measures | C.disadvantages | D.conditions |
A.in charge of | B.in response to | C.in sight of | D.in search of |
A.independence | B.weight | C.trust | D.experience |
A.worried | B.curious | C.angry | D.enthusiastic |
A.carry | B.sell | C.boil | D.produce |
A.mistakes | B.apologies | C.improvements | D.documents |
A.hurt | B.helped | C.failed | D.escaped |
A.workers | B.fighters | C.managers | D.supporters |
A.occasionally | B.gradually | C.hardly | D.regularly |
A.clean | B.decorate | C.destroy | D.run |
A.attracted | B.monitored | C.postponed | D.welcomed |
6 . Banff National Park is home to an amazing wildlife population. But the busy Trans Canada Highway that cuts through the park is a hazard to the lovely animals. To address the problem, Banff first put-up wildlife fencing on either side of the highway to discourage animals from entering the busy road. Then, since 1996, they’ve opened six wildlife overpasses and 38 underpasses to help the animals cross the highway in safety. I was fortunate to visit Banff’s Red Earth Overpass with Trevor Kinley, the project manager with Parks Canada. He told me that so far, they have documented 10, 000 safe animal crossings on this overpass alone. “ Some animals have learned how to use the crossings much more quickly than others. Black bears are the fastest learners, followed by deer. Wolves and lions take the longest to work out how to use them, ” Kinley said, laughing. “ But those animals that are slower to adapt are usually more capable and determined at figuring out the safest way to cross those overpasses and underpasses. ”
There is some criticism (批评) that channeling so much wildlife into a few bridges and tunnels is like making a trap for the animals, offering big animals an easy meal on either side. “ But research has shown that this is not the case, ” Kinley assured me. “ There are no more killings around the crossings than there are anywhere else in the park. ”
Walking over the Trans Canada and then walking underneath through one of the tunnels, I was amazed to see the fresh tracks of black bears, wolves, deer and many kinds of smaller animals. Somehow, all these animal footprints made me so happy, knowing that all this wildlife was passing safely under and over the longest road in Canada.
Hopefully, the success of the wildlife crossings in Banff will continue to inspire similar solutions around the world, where human pressure on wildlife continues to grow.
1. Which of the following best explains “ hazard ” underlined in paragraph 1?A.Shelter. | B.Message. | C.Answer. | D.Danger. |
A.They are stupid animals. | B.They are cautious learners. |
C.They are very dangerous. | D.They are good at adapting. |
A.There are too many bridges and tunnels. | B.Many animals will not use the crossings. |
C.More killings might happen at the crossings. | D.Illegal hunting might be encouraged in the park. |
A.Concerned. | B.Disappointed. | C.Shocked. | D.Delighted. |
7 . Wu Ming, a young German born after 1995, is a big fan of Chinese culture. As he thought some diseases can’t be treated
Studying TCM also
Wu
Wu thinks there’s no big difference between China and Western countries. “
A.immediately | B.gradually | C.thoroughly | D.consistently |
A.depend on | B.dig into | C.look up | D.work out |
A.created | B.enjoyed | C.advanced | D.acknowledged |
A.overcame | B.seized | C.divided | D.shifted |
A.raised | B.sorted | C.cooked | D.tasted |
A.aspects | B.standards | C.themes | D.means |
A.enriched | B.secured | C.expanded | D.changed |
A.exposed | B.reduced | C.restricted | D.addicted |
A.businesses | B.recreations | C.routines | D.tasks |
A.balanced | B.wealthy | C.humble | D.efficient |
A.employs | B.promotes | C.outlines | D.conveys |
A.scanning | B.checking | C.exploring | D.comparing |
A.concern | B.wish | C.demand | D.passion |
A.Misunderstanding | B.Destruction | C.Stress | D.Failure |
A.source | B.basis | C.bridge | D.tool |
I live with my husband in San Luis Obispo, California, about three miles from the beach. Every few years, the humpback whales come into the bay for a few days while they’re migrating. November 2020 was one of those times, so we took out our yellow double kayak(皮艇)to watch the wildlife. We paddled out the length of the pier(码头)and saw seals, dolphins, and about 20 whales feeding on silverfish. We were in awe watching these graceful giants—each one about 50 feet long—breach and spray through their blowholes. We laughed when they turned their side fins so that it looked as if they were waving at us.
At the time, my friend Liz was staying with us. The next day, I asked her if she wanted to go out on the water to see them.
“No way,” said Liz, now 65. She was not an experienced kayaker and was terrified that the kayak would overturn while we were surrounded by hungry whales. “There’s nothing to worry about,” I assured her. “The craft is stable, and we can turn back anytime. I’ve learned somewhere that whales have enormous mouths but tiny throats. Anything they can`t swallow they spit right out.” After some cajoling(劝诱), she finally agreed to join me. I didn’t want her to miss this magnificent experience and regret it later.
Liz and I got out on the water at 8:30 the following morning. There were already about 15 other kayakers and paddleboarders in the bay. It was warm for November, so we wore T-shirts and leggings. After a half-hour, we had our first whale sighting just past the pier: two humpbacks swimming toward us. How amazing to be that close to a creature that size, I thought as the whales dipped under the waterline.
When whales go down after breaching, they leave what looks like an oil slick on the water. I figured if we paddled toward that spot, we’d be safe from the whales, since they’d just left. We followed them at a distance—or what I thought was a distance. I later found out that it’s recommended to keep 300 feet away. We were more like 60 feet away.
注意:1. 所续写短文的词数应为 150 左右;
2. 至少使用 5 个短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
3. 续写部分分为两段, 每段的开头语已为你写好;
4. 续写完成后, 请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Suddenly, we felt our kayak rocking violently.
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Paragraph 2:
Still, I didn’t panic and I just kept thinking I’ve got to breathe in this “white wall”.
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1. 观看着陆的感受;
2. 飞船凯旋的意义;
3. 给青少年的启示。
参考词汇: 神舟十三号载人飞船 Shenzhou-13 Manned Spaceship
注意:1. 词数 80 左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
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10 . The Korean culture wave has swept through the editorial offices of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which has added more than 20 new words of Korean origin to its latest edition.
The new words include hallyu, the Korean original for the wave of pop culture that has made BTS one of the world’s most popular bands and Squid Game the Netflix sensation of 2021. The dictionary defines it as the increase in international interest in South Korea and its popular culture, esp. as represented by the global success of South Korean music, film, television, fashion, and food.
But as the dictionary’s new additions make clear, there is much more to Korean cuisine than its spicy staple kimchi, which appeared in the OED as long ago as 1976. New food-related entries include bulgogi, thin slices of beef or pork, and chimaek, Korean-style fried chicken and beer.
Traditional culture is represented by hanbok, formal costumes worn by both men and women, and Hangul, the Korean alphabet (字母表) created by King Sejong in 1443.
Aegyo, a certain kind of cuteness or charm considered characteristically Korean, and similar to the Japanese word kawaii, has been included as both a noun and adjective. There is room, too, for mukbang, or livestreams of people eating extraordinary amounts of food while talking to the online audience.
The inclusion of “skinship” is more surprising. Commonly used in South Korea, where it is translated as seukinsip, and in Japan (sukinshippu), it captures the emotional bond that comes from close physical contact between a parent and child, lovers and friends, the dictionary said.
“The adoption and development of these Korean words in English demonstrate how lexical (词汇的) innovation is no longer restricted to the traditional centres of English in the United Kingdom and the United States,” the OED said.“They show how Asians in different parts of the continent invent and exchange words within their own local contexts, then introduce these words to the rest of the English-speaking world, thus allowing the Korean wave to continue to ripple on the sea of English words.”
1. Why does the OED’s latest edition include new Korean words?A.The Korean culture is gaining global influence. |
B.The previous edition of the OED is out of fashion. |
C.The OED wants to advertise Korean pop products. |
D.The old additions have given way to the new ones. |
A.Aegyo. | B.Hanbok. |
C.Bulgogi. | D.Mukbang. |
A.Transforms. | B.Ruins. |
C.Establishes. | D.Represents. |
A.Korean dominates the Asian cultures. |
B.Innovative words are limited to English. |
C.The Korean wave will impact more on English. |
D.Korean and English words are interchangeable. |