1 . A working semiconductor (半导体) has been created from graphene(石墨烯), potentially laying the foundation for a new type of computer with greater speed and efficiency than today’s silicon chips(硅基芯片) allow.

Graphene, a material made from a single layer of carbon atoms, is a good electrical conductor resistant to heat and acids. But a working graphene semiconductor which can be controlled to conduct or separate electricity at will, has evaded scientists. Such semiconductors are key to creating the logic chips that power computers.

The problem has been the lack of what is known as a bandgap. Semiconductors have bands of higher and lower energies and a point—the bandgap—at which excited electrons can jump from one to the other. This effectively allows the flow of current to be switched on and off, so it is either conducting or not conducting, creating the binary system of zeroes and ones used in digital computers.

Now, Walter de Heer at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his colleagues have created graphene with a bandgap and demonstrated a working transistor, an on/off switch that either prevents or allows current to flow through it. De Heer said the electrical properties of a graphene semiconductor were far better than those of silicon chips. “It’s like driving on a rocky road versus driving on a freeway,” he said.

Silicon chips are cheap to make and backed by extensive production facilities, but we are reaching their limits. Moore’s law states the number of transistors in a circuit will double roughly every two years, but the rate of downsizing has slowed recently as engineers reach circuit concentration beyond which electrons can’t be reliably controlled.

“You can use all the technology the whole semiconductor industry is totally comfortable with to scale up this process,” says David Carey at the University of Surrey, UK. But he suspects the world will soon shift to graphene chips, because silicon has such a head start. “Most people working on silicon are bombed daily by new, wonderful materials that are about to replace it and none of it’s ever happened,” he says.

1. What does the underlined word “evaded” probably mean in paragraph 2?

A．Surprised.

B．Attracted.

C．Annoyed.

D．Puzzled.

2. Why is a bandgap crucial?

A．It excites the jump of electrons.	B．It creates the system of zero s and ones.
C．It balances the higher and lower energies.	D．It allows the on and off of the current flow.

3. What advantage might graphene semiconductor have over silicon chips?

A．Superior electrical characteristics.	B．Stronger production support.
C．Lower development cost.	D．Slower downsizing rate.

4. What may be David’s attitude to graphene chips’ application in the near future?

A．Uncaring.

B．Favorable.

C．Doubtful.

D．Disapproving.

2 . Science fiction has long entertained the idea of artificial intelligence becoming conscious (有意识的). Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but the pace of AI evolution (发展) has got them considering: how would we know if they were?

To answer this, a group of 19 neuroscientists (神经系统科学家), philosophers and computer scientists have come up with a checklist of standards that, if met, would indicate whether a system has a high chance of being conscious. The authors made the effort because “it seemed like there was a real lack of detailed, thoughtful discussion of AI consciousness,” says co-author Robert Long, a philosopher at the Center for AI Safety.

The team says that a failure to identify whether an AI system has become conscious has important moral implications. If something has been labelled “conscious”, according to co-author Megan Peters, a neuroscientist at the University of California, “that changes a lot about how we as human beings feel that entity (独立存在的个体) should be treated”. Long adds that, as far as he can tell, not enough effort has been made by the companies building advanced AI systems to evaluate the models for consciousness and make plans for what to do if that happens.

One of the challenges in studying consciousness in AI is defining what it means to be conscious. Peters says that for the report, the researchers focused on “phenomenal consciousness”.

Many neuroscience-based theories describe the biological basis of consciousness. But there is no agreement on which is the right one. To create their framework, the authors therefore used a range of these theories. The idea is that if an AI system functions in a way that matches aspects of many of these theories, then there is a greater likelihood that it is conscious.

They argue that this is a better approach to assessing consciousness than simply putting a system through a behavioural test — say, asking ChatGPT whether it is conscious, or challenging it and seeing how it responds. That’s because AI systems have become remarkably good at mimicking (模仿) humans.

1. What does Robert Long say about present research on AI consciousness?

A．It is far from enough.

B．It is progressing rapidly.

C．It has shown promising insights into it.

D．It has learnt a lot from previous research.

2. What would change if AI systems became conscious according to Megan Peters?

A．Their final applications.

B．How humans treat them.

C．Their moral responsibilities.

D．How humans make future; plans.

3. What is a challenge of studying AI consciousness?

A．Providing a definition of it.

B．Uncovering the reason behind it.

C．Measuring AI’s ability to mimic humans.

D．Comparing AI consciousness and human consciousness.

4. How do the researchers identify whether an AI system is conscious?

A．By observing its responses to digital signals and online questions.

B．By checking its understanding of some neuroscience-based theories.

C．By comparing its functional patterns with neuroscience-based theories.

D．By conducting experiments and tests to measure its level of self-awareness.

3 . The Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World

Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building

The wide-open entrance square on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo’s main train station would look more at home in Amsterdam or Paris. Kingo Tatsuno’s classical European design took over six years to complete, finally opening in 1914. The statin has received several facelifts since the Second World War, most recently in 2012. It’s one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world.

Beijing West Railway Station

The idea of building this station in the capital of China was put forward as early as 1959 but didn’t come to reality until 1996. It was the largest station in Asia at the time, although Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station has since surpassed it. The station itself has a unique architectural (建筑的) style, with the main body of the building having quite a functional Russian look, but the rooftop is decorated with three amazing Chinese pagodas.

Duoliang Station, Taiwan

This is the smallest station on this lit by a distance. In fact we’re not really choosing Duoliang for architectural reasons. This station is all about location, location, location. Surrounded by hi top greenery on one side and amazing Pacific Ocean scenery on the other, it’s one of the most scenic spots in all of Taiwan. This isn’t even a working station anymore, but the platforms have been adapted into viewing spots, extremely popular with local train spotters.

Stazione Milano Centrale in Milan

Milan’s central train station looks pretty much exactly as you’d imagine it. There are a mix of styles at play here, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, but the entire building is filled with a classic sense of Roman monumentality. The outer look is guarded by two statues, while its insides are equally impressive, as grand stonewalls curve (弯曲) into the station’s glass ceilings.

1. What do Tokyo Station and Beijing West Railway Station have in common?

A．Both have European features.

B．Both were built in the early 1990s.

C．Both have been rebuilt several times.

D．Both are the largest domestic stations.

2. What do train spotters favor most about Duoliang Station?

A．Its distance.	B．Its small size.
C．Its surrounding scenery.	D．Its architectural style.

3. What makes Stazione Milano Centrale impressive?

A．Roman buildings	B．Its various styles.
C．Statues on the walls	D．The curving ceilings.

4 . 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。

Now, as drone (无人机) technology has advanced so rapidly, high-tech drone shows are more likely to replace fireworks to light up the sky during special events.     1    (compare) to fireworks, drone shows have several advantages. “While fireworks can create a     2    (joy) atmosphere, drone shows can be tailored and can present more specific information,” Yang said, “They are safer and more environmentally friendly, and with their high-tech touch, are     3     next-generation communication platform.”

5 . 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。

Picture yourself traveling along the ancient Silk Road. The air     1     (fill) with the pleasant sound of camel (骆驼) bells, the appealing smell of spices, and the rising steam from cooking pots. In this diverse scene, traders exchange not only silks and treasures but also lamb kebabs     2     (dance) on open fires, hand-pulled noodles moving like acrobats (杂技演员), and sweet-smelling rice dishes shining with spice diamonds.     3     they are lamb kebabs or hand-pulled noodles, each offering tells a story of trade and the harmonious mixing of cultures.

6 . 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。

Yuan Longping, known as the “father of hybrid rice”, is one of China’s most famous scientists. After overcoming numerous technical challenges, Yuan     1     (pioneer) hybrid rice—the first hybrid rice that could be used for farming.     2     is estimated that about 60% of China’s rice consumption now comes from his hybrids. Yuan’s innovation has benefited not only China but also rice-dependent     3     (country) like India and Vietnam. Despite wealth and fame, he considered himself a farmer and made substantial donations for agricultural research, showing his     4     (commit) to the land and its people.

7 . Although many of us may accept in theory that failure is a necessary component of all learning and growth, in practice,     1    . We may know that we need a growth mindset in order to develop, but failure remains an experience that is often associated with shame.

There are various reasons why we may fear failure.     2    . When we fail at something, our self-image suffers. We may feel worthless, and we may criticize ourselves for our failure. If we fail publicly, our failure will be visible to others. We may fear other people’s judgment. We may fear that our failure will impact or end our career, or else that it will damage our fame.

How, then, can we overcome our fear of failure so that we can truly benefit from what failing has to teach us?

    3    . Reminding yourself that there is no growth without failure — no learning, no development, no new experiences — can help you see what you dislike in a new light. Be open to learning from failure for overall development.

    4    . Try to learn a new skill or hobby — a sport, cooking, dancing, drawing, playing an instrument — and be kind to yourself in the learning process. Mindfully allow yourself to fail, to try again, to fail again but better, and try again, until you get somewhere.

Keep a little diary in which you record what your failures have taught you. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself when you fail, ask yourself: What can I learn from this experience? And remember:     5    .

A．we can easily make the most of it

B．Look at your attitudes about failing

C．we often struggle greatly with failing

D．Build your failure muscle gently in a safe space

E．Fear may prevent you from seeking new experiences

F．While it is hard to fail, it is much worse never to have tried to succeed

G．Perhaps the most common is that our self-worth tends to be tied to success

8 . The living room is cleared. The host taps a wine glass with a knife, and people file in, filling the sofas and chairs that are pushed up against the walls. Soon every seat in the house is taken, and a bottle of schnapps is passed around. Lyon Hansen, who minutes before was knocking about in the kitchen, walks over and picks up a guitar and starts to play. Hoyma has begun.

For one night, homeowners primarily in Sydrugota, a small town on the Faroe Islands, open their doors, inviting friends, family and tourists in to enjoy intimate (亲密的) concerts by local artists. The tradition dates back nearly 500 years to a time when Faroese life had to move underground due to Danish rule. The culture and the language was kept alive in people’s living rooms, where they gathered to sing and tell stories.

The modern Hoyma concert series started as an offshoot (分支) of the G! Festival, an annual musical event on the beaches of Eysturoy every summer since 2002. Around 2007, G! Festival’s creator Jón Tyril, exhausted by all the red tape (繁文缛节) that came with putting on a big music festival, started to dream a little smaller. Specifically, he started to think about tiny concerts held in living rooms—no sound systems or spotlights, the audience made up of as many people as can fit inside a house. The idea resounded in his mind, not only because it didn’t involve any heavy lifting, physically or mentally, but also because it went back to the longstanding Faroese tradition.

Since 2007, Hoyma has featured 20 concerts in ten different family homes in Sydrugota. For Laksá, hosting the concerts is not only fun, but a way to give back, and to ensure the islands survive in the modern world. As in many families, her daughters grew up and left the Faroes. “They studied in the U. K. for nine years, but both came back,” she says. “I actually think that Hoyma is partly the reason why many children from this village that go abroad come back. They are proud of it.”

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By presenting a scene.	B．By evaluating an argument.
C．By clarifying a concept.	D．By making an assumption.

2. When can the tradition of Hoyma be traced to?

A．A stage when the G! Festival was needed by the Faroese.

B．A period when only local artists were allowed to perform.

C．An occasion when people celebrated the encounters with tourists.

D．A time when freedom of the Faroese was limited because of Danish rule.

3. What does Jón Tyril think of home concerts?

A．Economical and varied.	B．Convenient and entirely original.
C．Accessible and profitable.	D．Simple and culturally attached.

4. What does the author indicate by mentioning Laksá and her daughters?

A．Hoyma contributes to the survival of the islands.

B．Hoyma reflects the affection between mother and children.

C．Hoyma is gaining popularity across the globe in modern times.

D．Hoyma becomes enter taining with the involvement of the young.

9 . Food books can bring a culture to life. The following food books are bursting with delicious food, as well as entertaining and engaging storytelling.

	Pierre Thiam’s latest book aims to share everyday, easy-to-cook recipes like baked ginger-chili plantain kelewele. He explains how so many dishes and ingredients from the American South and other regions can trace their origin to West Africa. The 80 recipes are accessible and present a range of traditional and modern takes on the cuisine.
	Fuchsia Dunlop’s book examines classic Chinese dishes, like mapo tofu, soup dumplings and Dongpo pork. This book includes history, philosophy, cooking techniques, and Dunlop’s on-the-ground research conducted over three decades to present a fascinating exploration of this ever-changing cuisine.
	Tamar Adler seeks to make leftovers more appealing and lower food waste in the process with her latest book, which contains around 1,500 recipes. This isn’t what you’d call a beautiful coffee table-style cookbook — it’s practical and the creative secrets within are truly mind-blowing.
	Natasha Pickowicz is an innovative chef. More Than Cake is her first cookbook, full of invaluable tips like how to build a layer (层) cake. Aside from great baking recipes, this cookbook tries to live up to its name by sharing how baking can provide so much more than just tasty sweets — it can give community, purpose, joy and love.

1. Who explores Chinese food culture in the cookbook?

A．Pierre Thiam.	B．Fuchsia Dunlop.
C．Tamar Adler.	D．Natasha Pickowicz.

2. What do Simply West African and The Everlasting Meal Cookbook have in common?

A．They are the writers’ latest books.	B．They advocate lower food waste.
C．They have the same number of recipes.	D．They aim to share West African dishes.

3. Which book favors cake-baking lovers?

A．Simply West African.	B．Invitation to a Banquet.
C．The Everlasting Meal Cookbook.	D．More Than Cake.

10 . When handball was introduced to Sri Lankan schools in 2010, I wanted to bring it to my school in a remote village. This became a(n) _______ task as the sports teacher was unwilling to initiate anything _______ traditional sports like basketball. Despite being an English language teacher before _______ my post as deputy principal (副校长), I was _______ to start this game at any cost.

40 students aged between 13 and 19 _______ to play. I had the support of their parents but I still couldn’t _______ the sports teacher to agree. _______ , I used my position to get the game going.

Heshan Pradeep, an alumnus (校友) and member of the Air Force handball team, volunteered to _______ the team. Although handball is an indoor game, we trained outdoors due to limited _______. Training started early in the morning before class and ________ after school until it was dark. The boys loved the game and were ________ training. After three months of devoted training, we were able to send an under-19s boys’ team to ________ with 50 other schools. Our boys played remarkably well and ________ the semifinals. The following year, nobody could ________ our team from winning the all-island schools handball championship.

The ________ sent the whole village into carnival mode. Heshan and I were much honored to have shown the boys that dreams can be fulfilled.

1.

A．appealing

B．challenging

C．confusing

D．amusing

2.

A．regardless of

B．in relation to

C．other than

D．in terms of

3.

A．leaving

B．assuming

C．offering

D．creating

4.

A．determined

B．resistant

C．forbidden

D．grateful

5.

A．woke up

B．grew up

C．sped up

D．signed up

6.

A．allow

B．encourage

C．convince

D．force

7.

A．Ultimately

B．Occasionally

C．Similarly

D．Unfortunately

8.

A．protect

B．contact

C．coach

D．assess

9.

A．prospects

B．appliances

C．qualifications

D．facilities

10.

A．ended

B．continued

C．changed

D．functioned

11.

A．passionate about

B．particular about

C．embarrassed about

D．objective about

12.

A．debate

B．compete

C．associate

D．cooperate

13.

A．watched

B．hosted

C．reached

D．predicted

14.

A．stop

B．free

C．separate

D．excuse

15.

A．motivation

B．tendency

C．innovation

D．victory