1 . As AI grows more sophisticated and widespread, the voices warming against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence grow louder. “The development of artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race,” according to Stephen Hawking.     1     “AI scares the hell out of me,” Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk once said. Below we take a closer look the possible dangers of artificial intelligence.

Job losses due to AI automation

AI-powered job automation is a pressing concern as the technology is adopted in industries like marketing, manufacturing and healthcare. Eighty-five million jobs are expected to be lost to automation between 2020 and 2025.    2    And while it’s true that AI will create new jobs, many employees who won’t have the skills could get left behind.

Social control through AI algorithms (算法)

TikTok runs on an AI algorithm that fill a user’s feed with content related to previous media they’ve viewed on the platform. Criticism of the app targets this process and the algorithm’s failure to filter out harmful and inaccurate content, raising doubts over Tik Tok, ability to protect its users from dangerous and misleading media.     3     So it really leads to a situation where you literally cannot believe your own eyes and ears.

    4    

Blue-collar workers have experienced wage declines as high as 70 percent because of automation. On the other hand, white-collar workers have remained largely untouched. From this sense, if the trend continues, the existing social and economic gaps between different races and classes will be further widened. Weakening ethics and goodwill If mankind’s so-called technological progress were to become an enemy of the common good, this would lead to a heavy blow to modern civilization. The rapid rise of the conversational AI tool ChatGPT gives these concerns more substance. Many users have applied the technology to get out of writing assignments.     5    

A．This fear has become a reality

B．Widening socioeconomic inequality

C．Financial crisis brought about by AI

D．No one knows what’s real and what’s not

E．It threatens academic integrity and creativity

F．The famous theoretical physicist isn’t alone with this thought

G．As AI robots become smarter, the same tasks will require fewer humans

2 . Top Exhibitions to See in London in 2023

Architectural: Vanishing Points

While we like to think of architecture existing purely in the real world, emerging designers and architects are using platforms like Instagram to create structures in the virtual world. This collection of works, which range from the practical to the fantastical, are all by architects who have gathered significant social media followings.

In the Digital Universe at ROCA London. 8 February—31 July, free.

Flowery: Orchids

This annual festival is back in bloom (开花), this time inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of Cameroon. Just like previous years, the orchids are spread throughout the various zones of the Princess of Wales conservatory and accompanied by sculptures that are just as colourful as the flowers on display.

At Kew Gardens. 4 February —5 March, &16.50—entrance to the gardens included.

Female Abstraction: Action, Gesture, Paint

Art history has often shone a light on the men of Abstract Expressionism, such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Well, now’s the time to let the most important women of the movement take the limelight in an exhibition that includes works by American artists such as Lee Krasner and Helen Frankenthaler, but spreads the net wider to include the female abstract artists from Europe, Asia and the wider world, with whom most of us will be unfamiliar.

At Whitechapel Gallery. 9 February—7 May, £ 16.50—concessions available.

Powerful Portraits (肖像): Alice Neel

The largest UK exhibition to date of American painter Alice Neel’s work will bring together her figurative pieces from across her 60-year career. Neel went against the popular grain by painting figures when abstract works were most popular, and she painted subjects that other artists ignored — pregnant women, labour leaders, black children, civil rights activists and strange performers. It’s high time we had a major show of her work in London, and the Barbican has duly provided.

At Barbican Art Gallery. 16 February—21 May, & 18.

1. Which of the following exhibitions is held once a year?

A．Flowery: Orchids.

B．Powerful Portraits: Alice Neel.

C．Architectural: Vanishing Points.

D．Female Abstraction: Action, Gesture, Paint.

2. When can visitors appreciate Lee Krasner’s works?

A．On February 8.

B．On January 7.

C．On April 7.

D．On May 8.

3. What can we learn about the artist Alice Neel?

A．She is 60 years old now.

B．Her works didn’t follow the trend.

C．She often ignored some common subjects.

D．She is the most popular American painter in the UK.

3 . The New Yorker picks four of the year’s best books in 2022 and shares them with you.

Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah

The Nobel Prize winner’s most recent novel is a sweeping origin story of modern Tanzania, and a love story between Afiya and Hamza. Their search for a place in the world unfolds against the monumental absurdness of empire, focusing on the East African campaign of 1914-1918. The book questions the costs and rewards of the war’s occasional solidarities.

Nights of Plague by Orhan Pamuk

The Nobel awardee’s latest novel opens like a starry romantic chronicle (编年史): a steamer is making its way at night to an island, the Mingheria in 1901. On board are three medical scientists, and the group comes to Mingheria because of an outbreak of bubonic plague (黑死病). What is most vital in this book is Pamuk’s lovingly obsessive creation of the island itself. He places his humans in this “three-dimensional fairy tale” and observes what happens to the state when an epidemic tests its tolerances.

The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee

In an account that’s both lyrical and extensive, Mukherjee takes us through an evolution of human understanding: from the seventeenth century discovery that humans are made up of cells to our leading technologies for manipulating (操纵) and deploying (部署) cells for medical purposes.

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff

As a son of a Boston businessman, Samuel Adams was born in 1722. In detailing how Adams went on to shape every significant event in New England’s run-up to war, this book weaves a pleasing tapestry (织锦) of incident and inference. Schiff describes him as a master of the eighteenth-century version of fake news. The result is a wildly entertaining exploration of the roots of American political theatre.

1. What do Afterlives and Nights of Plague have in common?

A．They are romantic chronicles.

B．Their authors won the Nobel Prize.

C．They describe the outbreak of the war.

D．Their authors question the costs and rewards of the war.

2. Which book is about the exploration of medicine and the new human?

A．Afterlives.	B．Nights of Plague.
C．The Song of the Cell.	D．The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams.

3. What kind of book is The Revoluttionary: Samuel Adams?

A．A drama.	B．A novel.
C．A chronicle.	D．A biography.

4 . Technology use in class

You will be allowed to use your favorite type of technology (e.g. , laptop, iPad) in class if you choose to do so, since some people prefer taking notes that way. If you decide to use it, please avoid distractions, like e-mail checking or accessing social media during class.

Academic integrity

You will be expected to be the author of the assignments you turn in for this course. Your papers will require you to draw upon existing research to inform and lend credibility (可信度) to your arguments. To credit the ideas of others properly, you must follow two main rules:

●Always cite the source of a finding, idea, or argument that is not your own, no matter how much rewording you have done.

●Always put the findings, ideas, and arguments you cite into your own words. If a direct quote is absolutely necessary, put the text in quotation marks (引号) and include a page number in your citation.

Absences and late assignments

You are expected to attend every class, since your participation in class will count towards your final grade. Students with excused absences will have a chance to complete missed class assignments (and participation) without punishment. Otherwise, class participation can only be completed during class. Assignments submitted after the deadline will be considered late assignments. Late assignments will be graded with ½ of the grade if submitted by no more than one week following the original deadline. If not submitted within one week following the original deadline, late assignments will not be graded.

1. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A school regulation.

B．A college textbook.

C．An exam paper.

D．An academic article.

2. To achieve academic integrity, what are you expected to do?

A．Avoid assessing media during class.	B．Submit your totally original work.
C．Present others’ ideas as your own.	D．Cite others’ ideas in a proper way.

3. What will happen if you submit an assignment within one week after the due date?

A．You will be punished.	B．You will get a half grade.
C．You will receive a zero.	D．You will have to rewrite it.

5 . With the temperature rising and the world coming back to life, what’s better for the weekend to sit on a bench in a park and enjoy some good books? Just check out our newest releases on the way and expect a fruitful day!

From Scratch

By David Moscow

Adventurous Anthony Bourdainesque eaters and readers will appreciate David Moscow’s every word as he travels far (bye, Sea of Sardinia) and near (hello, Texas plains) to lean from farmer, hunters, fisherfolk and scientists about how our food reaches our plates.

Release Date: Apr. 30^th

Price: Hardcover: $17.95       Paperback: $11.95

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man

By Paul Newman

In 1986, Paul Newman tasked his best friend, Stewart Stern, with interviewing co-workers, family and friends for his memoir(回忆录), recently unearthed from Joanne Newman’s home nearly 15 years after her husband’s passing.

Release Date: Apr. 6^th

Price: Hardcover: $19.95       Paperback: $15.95

The Boy and the Dog

By Seishu Hase

In this Japanese bestseller translated to English and French, a dog displaced by the 2011 tornado, enters the lives of the six different people who take him in during his five-year adventure to return to his owner.

Release Date: Mar. 26^th

Price: Hardcover: $29.95       Paperback: $20.95

Cook as You Are

By Ruby Tandoh

The Great British Bake Off veteran Ruby Tandoh meets readers more than halfway to make quality home cooking accessible. Recipes range from people-pleasing meals for big groups to easy one-pot dinners for nights to yourself.

Release Date: Apr. 13^th

Price: Hardcover: $12.95       Paperback: $10.95

Buy 3 or more books and save $5!

So, what are you waiting for? Hit us with your order and enjoy your free time!

1. Which will you choose if you’re curious about harvesting crops?

A．From Scratch	B．The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man
C．The Boy and the Dog	D．Cook as You Are

2. How much will you spend at least for three different books?

A．$28.85.

B．$33.85.

C．$40.85.

D．$48.85.

3. How may the readers feel after reading the dog’s story?

A．Sorrowful.

B．Grateful.

C．Entertained.

D．Touched.

6 .    

Endangered Species Youth Art Contest

2023 Contest Now Open!

Join us for our 6th annual Endangered Species Youth Art Contest! In celebration of Endangered Species Day (May 19, 2023), Roger Williams Park Zoo is accepting art entries from local K-12 grade students in the New England area showing threatened and endangered species. Together we hope to raise awareness about the importance of saving endangered species and their wild habitats.

Winners will be formally announced by May 2023.

Rules & Art Submission Instructions:

▲All entries are to be submitted electronically. Web form will be made available beginning February 1,2023.

▲Students’   artworks must be original. Computer-produced images will NOTbe judged.

▲All artworks must be about threatened/endangered species.

▲Each art entry must also include a short explanation (3-5 sentences) as to why saving your chosen species from extinction is important.

Deadline: Entries must be received by Sunday, April 2,2023. Late entries will not be judged.

2023 Art Contest Prizes

GRAND PRIZE(Judges Choice)

▲One Family RWPZoo membership (a S149 value; or extra year added to current Zoo membership)

▲An adopt-an-animal package of your choice

▲One $100 gift card

GRADE CATEGORY WINNERS (Grades K-2, Grades 3-12)

Each grade-winner shall receive:

★Six General daytime admission tickets to RWPZoo

★One $25 gift card

HONORABLE MENTIONS (Grades K-2,Grades 3-12)

Each grade-honorable mention shall receive:

·Four General daytime admission tickets to RWPZoo

·An award certificate

All winning artworks will be highlighted on the Zoo’s website and social media pages, and in the Zoo’s summer WILD Magazine issue.

1. How can you submit your artwork?

A．By sending it in an envelope.

B．By turning it in on the website.

C．By handing it to the zoo in person.

D．By having it delivered to the judges.

2. What should you explain in your entry?

A．The habitats of threatened and endangered species.

B．The relationship between humans and endangered species.

C．The measures to protect endangered species.

D．The reason of protecting your targeted species.

3. What award will a grand prize winner get?

A．A choice to adopt an animal.

B．A S25 worth of gift card to the zoo.

C．An exhibition of the artwork all year round.

D．Six tickets to RWPZoo for general daily time admission.

7 . SSI Advanced Adventurer Course

•2 sessions of 8h
•The AAC starts on every Wednesday and Saturday, lasting 2 days
•Fees: $450
Exploration, Excitement, Experiences

That’s what the Advanced Adventurer course is all about. You don’t have to be “advanced” to take it — it’s designed to advance your diving, so you can start right after earning your Open Water Diver certification. The course helps build confidence and expand your scuba skills through different Adventure Dives.

Who should take this course?

Open Water Divers who are at least 12 years old are ready to step up and sign up for an Advanced Adventurer course. Divers under 18 may only participate in certain Adventures Dives — check with your SSI Instructor.

What will you learn?

You’ll plan your learning path with your instructor by choosing from a long list of Adventure Dives. There are two required dives — Deep and Underwater Navigation — and you choose the other three. During the Deep Adventure Dive, you learn how to plan dives to deal with the physiological effects and challenges of deeper scuba diving. The Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive helps improve your navigation skills. The other knowledge and skills you get vary with your interest and the adventures you have — photography, fish identification, exploring wrecks and many more.

What scuba equipment will you use?

Beyond basic scuba equipment, you’ll need a compass and a dive knife. You may also use specialized equipment depending on the Adventure Dives you choose. Your SSI Instructor will explain the equipment that you need and may suggest additional equipment.

1. On which of the following dates can you take the course?

A．From Friday to Saturday.	B．From Saturday to Sunday.
C．From Tuesday to Wednesday.	D．From Wednesday to Saturday.

2. How many dives can you learn during the course?

A．2.

B．3.

C．5.

D．7.

3. Which of the following is a must to take the SSI Advanced Adventurer Course?

A．Reaching adulthood.	B．Specialized diving equipment.
C．Advanced scuba skills.	D．Open Water Diver certification.

8 . It is never easy to be away from our loved ones.

Samantha Norris has missed her mother, Tamie Norris, for the past 11months every day. Tamie spent those months working in Jordan, far away from the family’s home in Austin, Texas. When the mom went back home earlier than expected, she decided to surprise her daughter who was still teaching students in the classroom at that time.

Samantha is a first-grade teacher at Harmony School of Innovation in Austin. This is her first teaching job, and she wanted to share every moment with her mother.

In a video of the big moment, Samantha’s jaw(下颌)hit the floor when her mom walked confidently into the classroom without telling her. Her eyes were filled with tears as Tamie gave her a big hug.

Students suddenly looked up to see their teacher tearfully hugging a woman. They had heard stories about Samantha’s mother, but seeing her was very exciting! “My kids were excited when they understood what was happening, of course, ” Samantha said. “They have always been so curious about her!”

Not only was it a surprise to the students, but Tamie also brought along a box of donuts (甜甜圈) for a sweet treat. Tamie made a big impression on the kids that day.

Later, Samantha shared the video and photos of her mom’s visit on Instagram. “11 months too long without giving my mom a hug-the best surprise, welcome home!!” she wrote.

What a special treat for Samantha—and her students! Tamie is a wonderful example of a strong woman and mother. We’re so glad she’s back in the homeland for a while.

1. What do we know about Samantha?

A．She is a teacher of Grade Two.

B．She is an experienced teacher.

C．She once worked in Jordan for 1l months.

D．She hasn’t seen her mother for l1 months.

2. How did Samantha feel about her mother’s sudden visit?

A．Amazed and hopeful.

B．Disappointed and sad.

C．Surprised and excited.

D．Worried and depressed.

3. What can be inferred from the story?

A．Tamie came back home later than expected.

B．Tamie is a confident and considerate mother.

C．Samantha didn’t share the video of her mom’s visit.

D．The students’ first impression of Tamie was favourable.

4. What could be the best title of the story?

A．A Sweet Surprise.

B．A Confident Mother.

C．An Interesting Class.

D．A Surprised Daughter.

9 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I was invited to a cookout on an old friend’s farm in western Washington. I parked my car outside the farm and walked past a milking house which had apparently not been used in many years. A noise at a window caught my attention, so I entered it. It was a hummingbird (蜂鸟), desperately trying to escape. She was covered in spider-webs (蛛网) and was barely able to move her wings. She ceased her struggle the instant I picked her up.

With the bird in my cupped hand, I looked around to see how she had gotten in. The broken window glass was the likely answer. I stuffed a piece of cloth into the hole and took her outside, closing the door securely behind me.

When I opened my hand, the bird did not fly away; she sat looking at me with her bright eyes. I removed the sticky spider-webs that covered her head and wings. Still, she made no attempt to fly. Perhaps she had been struggling against the window too long and was too tired? Or too thirsty?

As I carried her up the blackberry-lined path toward my car where I kept a water bottle, she began to move. I stopped, and she soon took wing but did not immediately fly away.

Hovering (悬停), she approached within six inches of my face. For a very long moment, this tiny creature looked into my eyes, turning her head from side to side. Then she flew quickly out of sight.

During the cookout, I told my hosts about the hummingbird incident. They promised to fix the window. As I was departing, my friends walked me to my car. I was standing by the car when a hummingbird flew to the center of our group and began hovering. She turned from person to person until she came to me. She again looked directly into my eyes, then let out a squeaking call and was gone. For a moment, all were speechless. Then someone said, “She must have come to say goodbye.”

注意：
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

A few weeks later, I went to the farm again.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was just about to leave when the hummingbird appeared.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

During China’s dynastic period, emperors planned the city of Beijing     1     arranged the residential areas according to social classes. The term “hutong”,     2     (original)meaning “water well” in Mongolian, appeared first during the Yuan Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty, the center was the Forbidden City,     3     (surround)in concentric(同心的)circles by the Inner City and Outer City. Citizens of higher social classes     4     (permit)to live closer to the center of the circles. The large siheyuan of these high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen often     5     (feature)beautifully carved and painted roof beams and pillars(柱子). The hutongs they formed were orderly, lined by     6     (space)homes and walled gardens. Farther from the center lived the commoners and laborers. Their siheyuan were far smaller in scale and     7     (simple)in design and decoration, and the hutongs were narrower.

Hutongs represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing. Thanks to Beijing’s long history     8     capital of China, almost every hutong has its stories, and some are even associated with historic     9     (event). In contrast to the court life and upper-class culture represented by the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs reflect     10     culture of grassroots Beijingers.