1 . After years of blue-collar(蓝领)jobs being replaced by machines, advanced chatbots are now breathing down white collars. Generative Al tools, such as ChatGPT, have made impressive progress in generating human-sounding language and understanding context. So much so that humans are no match for them in some tasks. Up to 300 million full-time jobs could be lost around the world, which is as much as 18% of the global workforce.
A recent study by OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, looked at the potential for automation across 1,016 jobs. Humans and AI separately rated how well software powered by large-language models, which are trained on a sea of information from the Internet and then reacted quickly to specific functions, could perform 19,000 tasks involved in the jobs. If the software was considered able to reduce the time it takes humans to complete the task by at least half, without a drop in quality, the task was considered ready for AI replacement. For other tasks, the company imagined additional software that could be added to the model, such as computer tools that can automatically pull fresh data from the Internet. They found that 80% of Americans could have at least 10% of their work tasks done by advanced Al tools. The figure rises to 50% of tasks for around 19% of workers.
This automation should not be feared. It could free workers from repeated tasks, contributing to greater productivity. A study published on April 5 suggests that generative AI could bring about sweeping changes to the global economy. As these tools could drive a 7% increase in global GDP and lift productivity by 1. 5 percentage points over a 10-year period.
But studies like this may overstate the potential for automation, ignoring some tacit skills(隐性技能)in professions they know less about. Human qualities important for some jobs, such as empathy or charisma(感召力), will be overlooked. And not all tasks capable of being carried out by AI should be: a man in love should feel it a shame for using it to write a love letter to his beloved girlfriend however touching and sincere it may sound.
Many businesses are also not willing to accept AI. And those who have already accepted it are at the risk of practical and legal(法律的) confusion. When chatbots do not know what to say, they often talk nonsense. The “creative” output they produce is based on a mixture of data sourced from the Internet, raising issues around accuracy, privacy and intellectual property(知识产权).
While much is unknown about how generative AI will influence the world economy and society, and it will take time to play out, there are clear signs that the effects could be profound. But in the real world, AI tools will still need handlers. That may even end up creating new jobs.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To show the popularity of AI tools. |
| B．To give examples of using generative AI tools. |
| C．To draw readers’ attention to the possible threat of AI. |
| D．To compare the impacts of AI on blue and white collars. |
| A．it can perform certain creative tasks |
| B．automation is powered by large-language models |
| C．it develops important human qualities like empathy |
| D．Al tools improve productivity without damaging quality |
| A．AI tools may help increase employment |
| B．AI will eventually take over human jobs |
| C．AI and automation do more harm than good |
| D．human qualities are not necessary for automation |
A person with a photographic memory could remember every detail of a picture, a book or an event many years later, but it has not been proved
4 . When my father died, one of the tasks that fell to me was to sort through and decide which objects to save and which to throw away. Now I look at the objects of my life as if I were dead, wondering, what will my children do with the human skull that sits on the bookcase? They’ve been wanting to throw it out for some years, but will they know how much can be learned from living with a skull? And I know they will throw the white plastic head of a horse on my desk into a rubbish bag without a thought, never knowing that it is the only piece remaining from the first chess set I owned. It is me at age twelve.
But the final decisions are left to those who know us least — our children. I was the closest to my father and knew him well; however, only when I was going through his study did I learn he had collected picture postcards of hotels. What was I to do with all the objects that had been him? The sad part of me wanted to put everything in my car and take it home. The rational won, however, and I filled rubbish bags with old newspapers, magazines, apologizing to his spirit as I did. I could not throw out the thousands of pictures he had taken on his travels. I brought the pictures home, though I will never look at them. I brought twelve boxes of my father home.
I look at the objects that are my life and the only way my children can satisfy me is by not touching a thing. But they must if I am to go on with my death. And I wonder how many boxes of me will my children keep? I look at these objects that are me and know, too, that they are symbols of how alone I and each of us is, for no one knows what any object means except he or she who owns it. Every object of our lives is a memory, and emotion surrounds around it, hiding and protecting a tiny truth of the heart. Only I have the memories of when and how each one was obtained; I look at the objects that are me, and the memories are warm and permeated (弥漫) with love.
1. Why does the writer keep the plastic head of a horse?| A．Because his father gave it to him as a gift. |
| B．Because it makes him a very good chess player. |
| C．Because it brings back memories of his childhood. |
| D．Because he accepted it as a prize for a competition. |
| A．He threw everything away. |
| B．He saved some of the worthless objects. |
| C．He took some of them to his own house. |
| D．He sorted them and put them into good order. |
| A．He is very strict with his children. |
| B．He prefers to collect different skulls. |
| C．He relies on his children to deal with his possessions. |
| D．He knows more about his father after his father died. |
| A．serve as the symbols of our social class | B．are reminders of past experiences |
| C．are quite expensive and valuable | D．make us proud of ourselves |
The Weight of White Lies
A man taking his mother to a surprise party tells her they’re going to the mall. A woman fibs that the store was out of her overweight boyfriend’s favorite junk food. A tutor assures his student that her spotty resumé looks fine.
Even benevolent forms of deception come in shades of acceptability, and people who learn that they have been misled don’t always see it the way deceivers do. A lie that’s meant to inflate someone’s confidence or discourage a bad habit, for example, often involves making a judgment about what’s best for that person. That presumption can backfire.
In recent experiments, participants playing an economic game on a computer received a tip that led them to one of two possible payoffs. Some learned that the sender of the tip had lied to them to secure them a particular option. If the best option had been debatable rather than obvious—such as receiving $10 right away rather than $30 after three months—participants judged that person as less moral for lying and were less satisfied with the outcome, on average, even if it was the one they had previously said they preferred. “People seem to feel they have a right to the truth, and that by taking that away, you diminish their ability to act freely,” says study co-author Matthew Lupoli, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, San Diego.
Making up falsehoods isn’t the only way to kindly deceive, though: You might also simply leave out unpleasant facts. Recent studies by University of Chicago researcher Emma Levine and colleagues examined both types of lie in hypothetical patient-doctor talks and other contexts.
People in the role of deceiver tended to view the omission of potentially harmful details (such as a poor prognosis) as comparable to or more acceptable than offering a comforting fiction (that a patient’s outlook was favorable). But those in the role of the deceived often considered false-but-supportive statements more tolerable than lies of omission. For deceivers, actively committing a lie feels more intentional and might provoke more guilt than omission, Levine says. But the targets of deception “aren’t likely to be sensitive to these differences because they just experience the consequences.”
In general, honesty is probably still the best policy. A lie that provides some emotional benefits and has little downside could be the closest second.
1. What is the presumption people make when telling a white lie (a lie that’s meant to be good)?2. What are the ways to kindly deceive others?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Those in the role of the deceived often considered lies of omission more tolerable than false-but-supportive statements.
4. Do you prefer to be honest or tell a white lie when informing your friend of something unpleasant? Why? (In about 40 words)
6 . 
My wife and I usually don’t keep houseplants. Anything in pots gets either overwatered or underwatered. But after my diagnosis with a brain cancer, I loved the idea of having something green and
Last year, my friend Mitch gave me a lucky bamboo plant. Tending to the plant gave me a sense of
However, after several weeks growing in perfect condition, the plant
“I can’t even care for a simple plant!” I yelled. “If my lucky bamboo dies, I might die too!”
Identifying with the green and growing plant had offered me comfort. But when the tree was struggling, I felt increasingly uneasy and
It was several months later when I recovered from surgery that I realized I had wrongly linked my careful nurturing of the plant—something over which I had at least some control—with my own
As my
Now whenever I look at the tree in its new pot, I make a point to relax and think of the things I can
| A．alive | B．primitive | C．delicate | D．mature |
| A．warmth | B．relief | C．achievement | D．security |
| A．valued | B．needed | C．provided | D．lacked |
| A．added | B．connected | C．adapted | D．compared |
| A．casually | B．interestingly | C．genuinely | D．mysteriously |
| A．spreading | B．browning | C．waving | D．dancing |
| A．fearful | B．innocent | C．faithful | D．dishonest |
| A．dream | B．success | C．capability | D．survival |
| A．discontent | B．anxiety | C．doubt | D．sympathy |
| A．give | B．share | C．decide | D．preserve |
7 . The brain function of very late risers and “morning larks(早睡早起的人)” during the hours of the working day is different, according to a study.
Researchers scanned the brains of night owls(夜猫子)with a bedtime of 02: 30 and awake time of 10: 15, along with early risers. The tests performed between 08 : 00 and 20 : 00 found night owls had less connectivity in brain areas linked to keeping consciousness. They were more likely to be scatterbrained and they also had slower reactions and increased sleepiness.
Scientists took 38 people who were either night owls or morning larks (people who went to bed just before 23 : 00 and woke at 06 : 30) and studied their brain function at rest. The volunteers then carried out a series of tasks at various times, from 08 : 00 to 20 : 00, and were asked to report on their levels of sleepiness.
Morning larks were least sleepy and had their fastest reaction time in the early morning tests. They were also found to perform significantly better at this time than night owls. In contrast, night owls were least sleepy and had their fastest reaction time at 20 : 00, although they did not do significantly better than the larks at this time.
The brain connectivity in the areas that predicted better performance and lower sleepiness was significantly higher in larks at all time points, suggesting connectivity in late risers is impaired(减弱的) throughout the whole working day, researchers said.
The lead researcher, Dr Elise Facer-Childs, of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Human Brain Health, said the findings “could be partly driven by the fact that night owls tend to compromise throughout their lives.” He added, “Night owls during school have to get up earlier, then they go into work and they have to get up earlier, so they’re constantly in conflict.”
Therefore, Dr Facer Childs called for more researches to understand the effects of night owls performing on a work or school schedule to which they are not naturally suited.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “scatterbrained” in Paragraph 2?| A．Unfocused. |
| B．Satisfied. |
| C．Recognized. |
| D．Discovered. |
| A．Morning larks were more tired in the morning. |
| B．Night owls were more active in the morning. |
| C．Morning larks perform better all day. |
| D．Night owls perform better all day. |
| A．The workings of their brain. |
| B．The effects of their compromises. |
| C．Whether they can turn into morning larks. |
| D．How to help them adapt to the normal schedule. |
| A．To solve a problem. |
| B．To give practical advice. |
| C．To tell an interesting story. |
| D．To present a research result. |
In the mornings, as I walked from the train station to the office, I planned my day by making a to-do list in my head: the scientific articles I would read, the data sets I would analyze, and-most urgent of all-the insights into human nature that it was my job to discover.
Each evening, I went back to the station, again going through my mental checklist but this time sizing up my performance against the expectations I’d set for myself that morning. Time and again, when comparing my to-do list with my got-done list, I felt disappointed because I had fallen short.
But one day, something very strange happened. During my trip home, without any conscious intent, my thoughts began to shift. Instead of feeling bad about my weaknesses, I said aloud very softly: I’m a nice person. I’m a nice person. I’m a nice person.
By the time I boarded my train, I was done with my little chant-until the next day when I walked home. And again, after counting my failures, I found myself saying quietly: I’m a nice person.
It turns out that there’s a technical term for this practice: values affirmation. And what it boils down to is recognizing, and strengthening, the personal values you hold most dear.
When you affirm a core personal value, you shore up your sense of self-worth. You broaden your outlook: Instead of focusing on your shortfalls, you switch to a wide-angle view that includes your resources and opportunities. And the people who do this are happier, healthier, and more hopeful.
Over time, I made progress in my research and learned a lot about what makes most successful people special, including this: Nobody has passion and determination unless what they do lines up with their values.
Try values affirmation for yourself and teach the practice to your students. Take a moment and think of a value you hold dear, whether it’s kindness, creativity, or gratitude. Whatever it is, name it. And then say to yourself: Come what may, I know who I am. Your values are your foundation and your compass, too. Trust them, and they will lead you home.
1. How did the author feel when she compared her to-do list with her got-done list?2. What is values affirmation?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
People who recognize their shortfalls are happier, healthier, and more
4. Apart from speaking out positive words, what else could you do to feel better about yourself? (In about 40 words)
9 . As a doctor, I can give you a lot of useful advice about how to get healthy and stay that way, but you don’t need me to tell you that exercise is good for you. Staying active can benefit the heart, the waistline, even the mind.
The slowdown occurs for most at the beginning of college. Academic pressure and lack of organized sports are certainly part of the problem. A bigger part may be looking at life changes as an occasion to blow up old rules and not create new ones in their place.
The good news is, there are solutions to all these. We can begin with exercises as simple as remembering to sit straighter or drink enough water. Specific workout plans can turn a general desire to exercise into a firm commitment.
We may never again have the energy of a two-year-old, but getting back even a little of our early-life energy can make our later lives a whole lot healthier.
| A．Being in college is certainly part of the problem. |
| B．This is especially so when it comes to staying fit. |
| C．Not having a clearly defined exercise plan can hurt. |
| D．We often wish to go back to our two-year-old selves. |
| E．For instance, you can schedule a weekly gym visit with friends. |
| F．Still, there’s a real disconnect between what we know and what we do. |
| G．The most puzzling part of our inactive nature is that we don’t start out that way. |
10 . Enlightening, challenging, stimulating, fun. These were some of the words that Nature readers used to describe their experiences of art-science collaborations in a series of articles on partnerships between artists and researchers... Nearly 40％of the roughly 350 people who responded to an accompanying poll (民意调查) said, they had collaborated with artists; and almost all said they would consider doing so in future.
Such an encouraging result is not surprising. Scientists are increasingly seeking out visual artists to help them to communicate their work to new audiences. “Artists help scientists reach a broader audience and make emotional connections that enhance learning,” one respondent said.
One example of how artists and scientists have together rocked the senses came last month when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed a reworked version of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.They reimagined the 300-year-old score (乐谱总谱) by integrating the latest climate prediction data for each season — provided by Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. The performance was a creative call to action ahead of November’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, UK.
But a genuine partnership must be a two-way street.Fewer artists than scientists responded to the Nature poll. However, several respondents noted that artists do not simply assist scientists with their communication requirements; nor should their work be considered only as an object of study. The alliances are most valuable when scientists and artists have a shared stake in a project, are able to jointly design it and can critique each other’s work. Such an approach can both prompt new research as well as result powerful art.
More than half a century ago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opened its Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) to explore the role of technology in culture. The founders deliberately focused their projects around light — hence the ”visual studies“ in the name. Light was something that both artists and scientists had an interest in, and therefore could form the basis of collaboration. As science and technology progressed, and divided into more sub-disciplines, the center was simultaneously looking to a time when leading researchers could also be artists, writers and poets, and vice versa.
Nature’s poll findings suggest that this trend is as strong as ever,but to make a collaboration work,both sides need to invest time and embrace surprise and challenge. The reach of art-science collaborations needs to go beyond the necessary purpose of research communication, and participants must not fall into the trap of stereotyping each other. Artists and scientists alike are immersed in discovery and invention; challenge and critique are essential to both, too.
1. According to Paragraph 1, art-science collaborations have __________ .| A．caught the attention of critics |
| B．received favorable responses |
| C．promoted academic publishing |
| D．sparked heated public disputes |
| A．art can offer audiences easy access to science |
| B．science can help with the expression of emotions |
| C．art is effective in facilitating scientific innovations |
| D．public participation in science has a promising future |
| A．their role may be underestimated |
| B．their reputation may be damaged |
| C．their creativity may be restricted |
| D．their work may misguided |
| A．Its projects aimed at advancing visual studies. |
| B．Its founders sought to raise the status of artists. |
| C．It demonstrates valuable art-science cooperation. |
| D．It was headed alternately by artists and scientists. |
