Shu embroidery (蜀绣) enjoys a long history in China. As early as the Han Dynasty, Shu embroidery was already famous, enjoying a high reputation as “
Shu embroidery
2 . Yuewen Miaobi (Great pen for online literature), China’s first Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) Large Language Model (LLM), designed particularly to assist writers in the online literature industry, was recently introduced by China Literature Limited, a pioneer of the online literature market. It also operates a leading online literature platform in China.
The new AI “pen” aims to bring improved cost-effectiveness to online literature authors’ writing process by reducing work that is “repetitive and time consuming”, Huang Yan, the vice president of China Literature Limited, told the Global Times.
Taking an author’s request to design a “treasure tool for a fantasy novel” as an example, after the writer inputs (输入) the scenario and data for the object, the AIGC tool will automatically respond with a name such as “fire dragon ball“, and tags (标签) describing its function such as ”used for regaining fiery energy“.
This smart design is ”adaptable to different settings“ and can help writers with tasks such as giving characters personalities and writing detailed descriptions of the scenery, Li Yilun, an online literature industry insider, told the Global Times.
According to Liu Dingding, an independent technology analyst, the LLM suits the online literature industry extremely well, even though it has been rarely used in the field.
“The LLM is useful in dealing with works that are logical and routine-like,” he said. Despite the professional efficiency, Liu said that the use of AI was still a “debatable” issue that might involve “copying and un-reviewed (未经审查的) sensitive content”.
“The platform should strengthen its management of the tool’s use. For example, sensitive words are required to be filtered out (过滤) in the system before they get used,” Liu noted.
1. What is the underlined word ”scenario“ in paragraph 3 mean?| A．outline | B．detail | C．title | D．character |
| A．To help the writer with a story. |
| B．To help the writer to give a description of characters personalities. |
| C．To help the writer with data collecting. |
| D．To help the writer adapt to different settings. |
| A．favorable | B．pessimistic | C．critical | D．objective |
| A．Attention should be paid to when we use Yuewen Miaobi. |
| B．China Literature Limited operates a leading online literature company in China. |
| C．China launches its first LLM for online literature. |
| D．The use of AI caused a debate online. |
3 . Like humans, dogs have tear ducts (泪腺) that well up with tears to keep their eyes clean and healthy. But tears in dogs, which tend not to fall as they do when humans cry, hadn’t been linked with emotion before.
Takefumi Kikusui, a professor at Azabu University in Japan, decided to study dog tears after watching his poodle (鬟毛狗) when she had puppies six years ago. He noticed that her eyes got teary as she nursed her puppies. So Kikusui and his team measured tear production among 18 dogs with a standard test known as the Schirmer Tear Test (STT). It involved a paper strip placed inside the eyelids (眼睑) of the dogs for a minute before and after they were reunited with their owners following five to seven hours of separation.
“Tear production was evaluated by the length of the wet part on the STT. The baseline was about 22 mm, and the reunion with the owner increased the length by 10%,” Kikusui explained. With the help of 20 dogs, researchers then compared tear production before and after reunions with their owners and people with whom the animals were familiar. Only the reunion with the owner increased tear production.
Researchers also tested if oxytocin, a hormone thought to be connected to emotional bonding in humans and dogs, could be causing the tear production. They found that dropping oxytocin in dogs’ eyes really increased tear production, while a control solution did not.
The findings suggest “dogs’ tears are associated with positive emotions, such as a reunion with the owner,” according to Takefumi Kikusui. Still, some scientists think it’s a stretch to say that dogs cry tears of joy. “It would take a lot to let me accept the evidence of this research,” said Clive Wynne, an animal behavioral specialist at Arizona State University.
1. What inspired Kikusui to carry out the research?| A．The cry of his poodle’s babies. |
| B．The problem with his poodle’s eyes. |
| C．The changes in his poodle’s eyes while nursing. |
| D．His poodle’s reaction to the reunion with him. |
| A．They can be a sign of dogs’ happiness. |
| B．They can show dogs’ negative feelings. |
| C．They can keep dogs’ eyes healthy and clean. |
| D．They can rarely be seen in young dogs’ eyes. |
| A．Applying oxytocin to dogs’ eyes. |
| B．Placing a paper strip in dogs’ eyelids. |
| C．Keeping dogs away from their owners. |
| D．Increasing the length of the STT’s wet part. |
| A．Dog’s positive and negative emotions can result in tears in their eyes. |
| B．There is a powerful emotional bond between humans and dogs. |
| C．Dog’s eyes are watering due to tear ducts. |
| D．Dogs cry tears of joy when they reunited with their owners. |
4 . Educational authorities have asked schools to make sure students have 10-minute breaks between classes after hearing complaints that some school students are not allowed to leave classrooms during breaks-unless they need to go to the toilet-- to ensure their safety.
Some students said teachers often overrun by a few minutes, and that some start their classes a few minutes before the breaks are scheduled to end. In these cases students do not even have time to go to the toilet.
A mother of a primary school student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province said her child’s school does not allow students to leave the classroom building during breaks. They are also forbidden to jump, run around or speak loudly.
The issue has caused a heated discussion on social media platforms.
“Teachers do not want to supervise students during class breaks. However, if students have accidents, some parents will still hold schools accountable,” said one netizen in a comment that received more than 10,000 likes. Another said, “Teachers are also tired, but the school makes such a requirement, and they have to follow.”
An official from the Ministry of Education said that it is important for schools to ensure students have time to rest during class breaks, which can help students relax, be healthy and avoid myopia (近视).
The ministry attaches great importance to class breaks, the official said. Apart from breaks between classes, schools should also make sure students have a 30-minute break each day for exercise. The ministry will urge local authorities and schools to implement the policies and prevent the practice of restricting class breaks in the name of “ensuring students safety”, the official said.
1. According to some parents, who is to blame if students have accidents during class breaks?| A．The children. | B．The schools. |
| C．Educational authorities. | D．The parents. |
| A．Because they have a lot of homework to do. |
| B．Because the teachers often end the classes late than scheduled. |
| C．Because schools want to ensure the students’ safety. |
| D．Because the students are told to do so by their parents. |
| A．relaxation for students. | B．avoid being short-sighted. |
| C．wellness of the students. | D．playing happily. |
| A．Schools will be urged to ensure students to have moderate class breaks. |
| B．Although tired, teachers are willing to supervise students during class breaks. |
| C．Students do not have time to go to the toilet because teachers often overrun by a few minutes. |
| D．Parents are in favor of not allowing the students to leave classrooms. |
5 . How to Boost Your Memory
The brain might be the place where memories are stored, and its memory capacity can be enlarged.
●
●Getting sugar from fruits and vegetables instead of products with added sugars is healthier for body and brain. Too much sugar restricts blood flow to the brain and can even cause brain illness. The real brain foods are those called the mind diet.
●Sleep is critical for memory formation, especially long-term memory formation. That’s because when you’re asleep, the brain, runs the tape of what it recorded during the day, gets rid of information that isn’t relevant and then stores other information for the long term.
●Challenging your brain is of great benefit, too. Maybe you’re a crazy bridge player, a crossword puzzle lover or a regular lecturer.
| A．Regular physical activities protect memory and thinking skills. |
| B．All the mentally engaging activities can help keep our minds active. |
| C．Exercise can build your body and improve your working efficiency. |
| D．Many lifestyle factors can have a positive effect on promoting your memory. |
| E．It emphasizes brain healthy intake of nutrients instead of high calories or sugars. |
| F．That’s why people diagnosed with sleep disorders are at higher risk of memory decline. |
| G．Long-term memory is essential for students who need to master large amounts of knowledge. |
6 . One evening, 13-year-old Briar agreed to look after his four younger sisters while his parents were out. The parents were
The first thought coming to Briar’s mind was to rescue his little sisters. The family had
Briar remained calm and focused on the
Firefighters arrived on the
| A．courageous | B．ignorant | C．confident | D．obvious |
| A．presence | B．absence | C．assistance | D．silence |
| A．previously | B．rarely | C．extremely | D．eventually |
| A．excited | B．ashamed | C．prepared | D．determined |
| A．went | B．lived | C．got | D．spread |
| A．efficient | B．fluent | C．urgent | D．patient |
| A．took hold of | B．put emphasis on | C．showed mercy to | D．caught up with |
| A．safety | B．failure | C．awareness | D．sight |
| A．problem | B．difficulty | C．danger | D．store |
| A．except | B．besides | C．since | D．despite |
| A．actually | B．desperately | C．entirely | D．definitely |
| A．price | B．point | C．age | D．depth |
| A．faster | B．lower | C．larger | D．weaker |
| A．scene | B．position | C．time | D．way |
| A．frightened | B．respectful | C．amused | D．grateful |
7 . I have always loved the Arthurian legend (传奇), as there is something quite special about King Arthur, and of course Merlin, my favourite character from the stories.
Death of an Empire is the second volume in MK Hume’s “Merlin” series which details Merlin’s life from birth. Merlin travels across the Roman Empire in search of his father, a voyage of discovery to understand just who he was. Eventually Merlin gets involved in the fight against the Hun’s invasion (入侵) of Europe at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plain.
Serving under the General Flavius Aetius, Merlin builds a reputation by saving the lives of thousands of soldiers. When he finally reaches Rome, he saves many more. But a far deadlier conflict between Emperor Valentinian and Senator Petronius Maximus is around the corner and Merlin must use all his strength to carry out his work.
If I had to choose just one word to describe this novel, there would be no other choice than “immersive (身临其境的)”. There has clearly been a serious amount of research carried out by the author. Combined with the descriptive prose and imaginative story, the book really does attract you from almost the very start. The story really does feel like you are a part of it as Merlin travels across the Roman Empire.
The author does a great job of mixing the rich history with established Arthurian legend. The battle scene is handled very effectively. The author employs a very effective form to show the main fight and this not only adds a degree of tension and a good level of excitement but almost makes you feel like you are right there hearing about what happened.
Death of an Empire is a very fine novel, a wonderfully rich tale and a rewarding story.
1. Why does Merlin travel across the Roman Empire?| A．To visit King Arthur. | B．To enjoy a nice view. |
| C．To get a well-paid job. | D．To find out his origin. |
| A．It is a mixture of history and legend. |
| B．It features difficult language. |
| C．It speaks highly of an emperor. |
| D．It is a masterpiece of Merlin. |
| A．An effective description. | B．A long-running battle. |
| C．A wonderful feeling. | D．A well-known legend. |
| A．A news report. | B．A history story. |
| C．A book review. | D．A science fiction. |
8 . Exploring Wildlife Conservation in Kenya
Day 1: Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive at the airport in Nairobi, where our staff will be on hand to drive you to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel
Day 2: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
A charter flight (包机) brings us to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a 62,000-acre grassland on the north of Mount Kenya. Considered a model in the conservation field, this healthy wildlife habitat is home to a number of rare species, including the giraffe, the Grevy’s zebra, and African wild dogs. Lewa and the neighboring Borana Conservancy also harbor roughly 15 percent of Kenya’s entire rhino population.
Accommodation: Elewana Lewa Safari Camp
Day 3: Amboseli National Park
Fly by private charter to Amboseli National Park, where vast grasslands are irrigated by underground runoff streams from Mount Kilimanjaro. These landscapes provide a habitat for hundreds of elephants, making the park one of the best places in Africa to spot these large creatures. The travel begins on the drive to Tortilis Camp, set within view of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation: Tortilis Camp
Day 4: Masai Mara National Reserve
At first light, head out to track the animals that crossed the area during the night. This area has one of the highest concentrations of large predators (捕食性动物) in all of Africa. Then watch large groups of hippos in the Mara River and crocodiles sunbathing on the shore.
Accommodation: Kichwa Tembo Camp
1. On which day will you visit Lewa Wildlife Conservancy?| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
| A．Tamarind Tree Hotel. | B．Kichwa Tembo Camp. |
| C．Amboseli National Park. | D．Borana Conservancy. |
| A．It provides the best sunbath. |
| B．It features the Grevy’s zebra. |
| C．It is located near an airport. |
| D．It is home to large predators. |
9 . How to make a small talk
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, mastering how to use a small talk is very important if you attend social and networking events.
Paying attention to what the person is saying and putting your devices away are some of the gestures of expressing interest. Take this as an opportunity that has presented itself, so you can know each other better.
Be an active listener
Use open-ended questions.
Most people like to start the conversation by talking about their life and things. Using open-ended questions such as “
Respond enthusiastically.
If it’s your turn to respond, make sure to do it enthusiastically. You’re talking to someone who doesn’t know you very well, and how you respond can go a long way in helping establish a great rapport(和谐)from the start.
Be mindful of your body language.
Your body language can tell whether you are attentive to what your conversation partner is saying.
| A．Show genuine interest. |
| B．How have things been? |
| C．Do you major in engineering management? |
| D．Approach the common interest from a unique angle. |
| E．Offer your full attention to what your conversation partner is saying. |
| F．Make sure to respond in a way the other person feels valued and respected. |
| G．So mind how you maintain eye contact, position your hands, and stand during the chat. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
1. One of the best player had been injured.
2. At about 3:00 a.m. in 28 July 1976, bright lights were seen in the sky outside the city of Tangshan.
3. Thousands of children was left without parents.
4. China is wide known for its ancient civilization.
5. Go from junior high school to senior high school is really a big challenge.
6. I am amazed to see such an bad accident.
7. Obvious, I was unhappy, but I won’t quit.
8. Tom is looking forward to meet the new exchange student.
9. The maths homework looks easily.
10. We are very proud from him.
