1 . As we all know, our oceans are filled with garbage. Broken objects, used plastic bottles and so on fill our beaches and cover the ocean floor, doing huge damage to ocean creatures. Many individuals and organizations are working to remove this garbage, and recent technological developments have given them a new tool to do so: the trash-eating robot.
Robots of various shapes have been designed to collect garbage that they find floating in the ocean. For example, the French company IADMEEYS has developed what it calls the jellyfishbot. This small robot gathers up everything it meets, including liquid hydrocarbons (碳氢化合物) such as gasoline and oil. The jellyfishbot is remotely controlled and can clean up to 1,000 square meters per hour. The jellyfishbots’ small size and ability to be easily controlled make them ideal for cleaning up crowded areas such as ports.
For larger, more open areas, a much larger robot called the Interceptor has a similar function. Designed for use on rivers, the Interceptor looks like a boat with a conveyor belt (传送带) that picks up trash. Once a sensor indicates that the rubbish bins are full, the Interceptor automatically sends a text message to onshore operators. These operators collect and empty the rubbish bins, sending the garbage to local waste management facilities.
The Interceptor’s name comes from the verb intercept because its purpose is to prevent trash from getting to the ocean. Most of the garbage in the oceans comes down rivers. Cleaning up trash that litters the ocean is good, but to keep the oceans clean, new garbage must be kept from getting there. Therefore, the Interceptor is used to prevent pollution before it enters the ocean.
The Interceptor is completely solar-powered and operates on its own, which minimizes the need for human involvement.
Robots are able to clean up large amounts of garbage without humans struggling through beach cleanup by hand. Hopefully, they can be a big part of the solution to ocean pollution.
1. The author writes the first paragraph mainly to ______.| A．make a definition | B．explain the argument |
| C．lead in the topic | D．make a comparison |
| A．They are both solar-powered. |
| B．They need no human operation. |
| C．They can only clean up the crowded ports. |
| D．They can play a role in solving ocean pollution. |
| A．Check. | B．Stop. | C．Sort. | D．Collect. |
| A．The Severe Ocean Pollution |
| B．The Development of the Robot |
| C．The Hug e Damage to Ocean Creatures |
| D．The Promising Tool to Ocean Pollution |
2 . In mid-January, Jacky Hunt-Broersma, a native of South Africa, set her goal of running. And since then she has been running 26. 2 miles every day, about the
Hunt-Broersma lost half of her left leg
But Hunt-Broersma says her investment (投入) has been well worthwhile. “Running really
Hunt-Broersma is hoping to
| A．background | B．theme | C．distance | D．speed |
| A．experiment | B．achievement | C．invention | D．program |
| A．measure | B．goal | C．rank | D．position |
| A．in spite of | B．apart from | C．due to | D．regardless of |
| A．struggle | B．possibility | C．opportunity | D．regret |
| A．active | B．sensitive | C．negative | D．reliable |
| A．recorded | B．changed | C．reflected | D．limited |
| A．approaching | B．supporting | C．pushing | D．affecting |
| A．describe | B．seek | C．collect | D．inspire |
| A．stronger | B．healthier | C．stricter | D．wiser |
1. 活动的时间和地点
2. 活动的内容和意义
提示词语：非物质文化遗产 Intangible Cultural Heritage
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
I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. The effort made in vain is unavoidable in some rescue work. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl (猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick (雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree. The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all—LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.
1. Why does the author think that the effort is in vain in some rescue work?2. What did the author do to make the chick calm down?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The young owl in the nest looked healthy and active, and the homeowner’s parents prepared some lunch for the chick.
4. What can you do to help animals in need?（in about 40 words）
5 . Art is a wonderful thing that can enrich our spiritual life. It comes in two main types: realistic and abstract (抽象的). Realistic art aims to show real-life scenes, people, and objects exactly as they appear. It involves paying close attention to details, making things look like photographs.
Realistic art is easy to understand.
Unlike realistic art, abstract art is more about being creative.
As for personal preference, some people prefer the clear stories of realistic art while others are attracted to the mystery of abstract art, interpreting meanings in the shapes and forms. Together, the two kinds of art make the art world various and engaging.
| A．Both types of art take skills to make. |
| B．Viewers can easily recognize what is pictured. |
| C．Mastering abstract art needs more artistic training. |
| D．Photographs show imaginary life of people from long ago. |
| E．Both ways of creating art have their own value and beauty. |
| F．In contrast, abstract art focuses less on realistic appearances. |
| G．Artists have the freedom to go beyond real-life representations. |
6 . 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 |
7 . 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 |
8 . 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)
