1 . I had never eaten an oyster. I loved seafood, but the sight of that gluey, shapeless thing... Ugh. I just couldn’t _________ it. Once at a dinner with my colleagues, they ordered some oysters. _________ , I stuck one with a tiny fork, lifted it onto the biscuit and brought it close to my mouth. It smelled salty. I saw everyone else just _________ putting the terrible thing into their mouths happily, and at the same time they _________ me for not trying them. I’m no chicken. Why was this so _________ ?

I _________ brought one up to my mouth and then pulled it back away over the next forty-five minutes before I_________ the courage to actually put it in my mouth. Meanwhile, everyone else was snacking on them like popcorn at the movies!

Something strange happened at that time. It was the most _________ thing. I wanted more! By then, of course,everyone else had already taken my _________ .

__________ learned. That time, it was an oyster, but there have been too many times I’ve let that happen in my life —__________ for too long to try or do something. And then, once I did, I __________ not only that it was not terrible，but it was something I really __________ ! Oh, what fun I could have had if only I’d been __________ enough to try thing sooner! When __________ knocks, now I say, “Eat the oyster!”

1.

A．accept

B．explain

C．recognize

D．seize

2.

A．Impatiently

B．Hurriedly

C．Fearfully

D．Gratefully

3.

A．practised

B．imagined

C．denied

D．kept

4.

A．took after

B．laughed at

C．relied on

D．lied to

5.

A．serious

B．awkward

C．hard

D．important

6.

A．naturally

B．jokingly

C．carefully

D．secretly

7.

A．ignored

B．gathered

C．recovered

D．recalled

8.

A．delicious

B．popular

C．familiar

D．traditional

9.

A．order

B．offer

C．bill

D．share

10.

A．Interest

B．Strategy

C．Truth

D．Lesson

11.

A．plan

B．evaluate

C．argue

D．wait

12.

A．announced

B．realized

C．regretted

D．expected

13.

A．remembered

B．valued

C．enjoyed

D．made

14.

A．energetic

B．brave

C．independent

D．proud

15.

A．opportunity

B．success

C．worry

D．accident

2 . Recent studies have found that good things really do come to those who wait. Some, of these science-backed benefits are detailed below, along with three ways to develop more patience in your life.

    1    . This finding is probably easy to believe if you call to mind the typical impatient person: face red, head steaming. Patient people tend to experience less depression and negative emotions, perhaps because they can deal better with upsetting or stressful situations.

Patient people are better friends and neighbors.     2    . Think of the best friend who comforts you night atter night over the heartache that just won’t go away, or the grandchild who smiles through the story she has heard her grandfather tell countless times.

Patience helps us achieve our goals. The road to achievement is a long one, and those without patience may not be willing to walk it. Patient people make more effort and progress toward their goals.     3    .

Patience is linked to good health. Patient people are less likely to report health problems like headaches and pneumonia.     4    . If patience can reduce our daily stress, it’s reasonable to infer that it could also protect us against stress’s damaging effects.

And how to develop patience? Reframe the situation. Patience is linked to self-control, and consciously trying to regulate our emotions can help us train our self-control muscles.

Practice mindfulness. Taking a deep breath and noticing your feelings of anger or overload can help your respond with more patience.

    5    . If we’re thankful for what we have today, we’re not desperate for more stuff or better circumstances immediately.

A．Practice gratefulness

B．Patience is a form of kindness

C．Patience can be achieved through training

D．As virtues go, patience is a quiet one

E．Patient people enjoy better mental health

F．They are also more satisfied when they realize them

G．But impatient people have more health complaints and worse sleep

3 . Traditionally, people have been forced to reduce complex choices to a small handful of options that don’t do justice to their true desires. For example, in a restaurant, the limitations of the kitchen, the way supplies have to be ordered and the realities of restaurant cooking make you get a menu of a few dozen standardized options, with the possibility of some modifications (修改) around the edges. We are so used to these bottlenecks that we don’t even notice them. And when we do, we tend to assume they are the unavoidable cost of scale (规模) and efficiency. And they are. Or, at least, they were.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to overcome this limitation. By storing rich representations of people’s preferences and histories on the demand side, along with equally rich representations of capabilities, costs and creative possibilities on the supply side, AI systems enable complex customization at large scale and low cost. Imagine walking into a restaurant and knowing that the kitchen has already started working on a meal optimized (优化) for your tastes, or being presented with a personalized list of choices.

There have been some early attempts at this. People have used ChatGPT to design meals based on dietary restrictions and what they have in the fridge. It’s still early days for these technologies, but once they get working, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Recommendation systems for digital media have reduced their reliance on traditional intermediaries. Radio stations are like menu items: Regardless of how nuanced (微妙) your taste in music is, you have to pick from a handful of options. Early digital platforms were only a little better: “This person likes jazz, so we’ll suggest more Jazz.” Today’s streaming platforms use listener histories and a broad set of characters describing each track to provide each user with personalized music recommendations.

A world without artificial bottlenecks comes with risks — loss of jobs in the bottlenecks, for example — but italso has the potential to free people from the straightjackets that have long limited large-scale human decision-’making. In some cases — restaurants, for example — the effect on most people might be minor. But in others, likepolitics and hiring, the effects could be great.

1. What does the underlined word “bottlenecks” in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．Facing too many choices.	B．Choosing from limited options.
C．Avoiding the cost of choosing.	D．Having too many desires to satisfy.

2. How can AI meet everyone’s needs?

A．By meeting both ends of supply and demand.

B．By decreasing representations on the supply side.

C．By disconnecting the sides of supply and demand.

D．By reducing people’s preferences on the demand side.

3. What’s the similarity between radio stations and menu items?

A．They are a necessary part in people’s life.	B．They offer limited choices.
C．They depend on digital platforms.	D．They provide reasonable suggestions.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．The variety of human’s choices.	B．Standardized optrarts in daily life.
C．AI settlements to the option bottlenecks.	D．Recommendation systems for digital media.

4 . A new report published in the Journal of Sleep Research found no evidence that using the snooze (打盹儿) function on your alarm negatively affects sleep and cognitive (认知) processes. And while learning sleepiness and shorter sleep were more common in those who snoozed, it could even have benefits if used shortly.

The research even found that a brief snooze period could relieve sleep mertia (惯性), the unclearness and performance or mood decline that occurs when waking up, without completely disturbing sleep. It could also improve one’s cognitive function compared to completely waking up after the first alarm goes off.

“The findings indicate that there is no reason to stop snoozing in the morning if you enjoy it, at least not for snooze times around 30 minutes. In fact, it may even help those with morning unclearness to be slightly more awake once they get up,” said the researcher Tina Sundelin of Stockholm University.

The research was based on two studies with the first observing the waking habits of 1,732 adults. Most of the adults (69%) reported using an alarm’s snooze function or occasionally setting multiple alarms. Snoozing ranged from 1 to 180 minutes, according to the study, with the average period being 22 minutes per morning. The second study analyzed 31 confirmed regular snoozers and found that for every 30 minutes they snoozed, they lost six minutes of sleep — for a net gain of 24 minutes. However, researchers did not find any clear effects on mood, stress, tiredness, hormone levels or overnight sleep quality.

The report also found people who snooze tended to be at least six years younger than those who don t, and those who were identified as night owls were almost four times more likely to snooze than early birds. Snoozers also had a slightly shorter sleep time on workdays, 13 minutes less on average, compared to those who never snooze.

Despite these studies finding that a certain amount of snooze time won’t damage your health, it remains key to get enough consistent sleep to avoid serious health consequences.

1. What may a short snooze period result in according to the new research?

A．Better sleep inertia.	B．Disturbed sleep processes.
C．A good mood.	D．A poor cognitive function.

2. What is Tina Sundelin’s attitude to short snoozing in the morning?

A．Critical.

B．Tolerant.

C．Doubtful.

D．Favorable.

3. How was the research carried out?

A．By consulting different experts.	B．By collecting and analyzing data.
C．By reviewing related records online.	D．By doing experiments on students.

4. What does the text suggest us do about sleep?

A．Try to be an early sleeper.	B．Sleep more on weekends.
C．Snooze as much as possible.	D．Get enough consistent sleep.

5 . My grandmother knitted Christmas stockings for each of her five children in the 1960s. Then, she made them for us, her grandchildren, too. When our grandmother died unexpectedly in 2017, it felt like the end of a tradition of handmade personalized Christmas stockings and my cousins’ chances of joining us with stockings on the fireplace were gone.

Grandma was an amazing woman, but she was hard to feel really close to when I was a child. She smiled softly when the grandkids came noisily through the door to disturb her shy, quiet peace. And instead of covering us with kisses like other grandmothers, she always had something ready for us. It took me a while to understand that the things she made meant the same as “I love you” or “I missed you”. It wasn’t that she was cold — not at all. Sometimes people as brilliant as Grandma have a hard time relating to others.

While we grew up, she was our personal Google. When I was in college, she asked if I studied the Romantic poets or how familiar I was with Aristotle. I tried my best to keep up, but there was a lot I never knew about my grandmother until she passed away. I knew and loved that every room and hallway in her house had a bookcase, and these were filled with books on every subject in several languages.

This year, I began to learn to make the Christmas stocking. At first, I considered it as a nice way to keep apart of Christmas I always loved as a child, but now I feel closer to my grandma than ever. And although my stockings will be the gifts for my cousins this year, now I understand the love and thoughts of Grandma that goes into the seemingly never-ending rows of knitting.

1. What does the author think the stockings made by Grandma were?

A．Ordinary Christmas presents.	B．Personalized warm clothing.
C．The bonds between family members.	D．A reminder of hard times.

2. How did Grandma express her love for her grandchildren?

A．By buying them gifts.	B．By giving them kisses.
C．By offering books to them.	D．By making things for them.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Grandma?

A．Determined.	B．Difficult.
C．Responsible.	D．Knowledgeable.

4. What was the author’s initial purpose in making the Christmas stocking?

A．To keep an old part of Christmas.	B．To save money on Christmas presents.
C．To honor the memory of Grandma better.	D．To pass Grandma’s knitting skills

6 . About ten years ago, logging into Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram would mostly show posts from friends and family in the order they were posted. Today, these platforms present a mix of content, tailored by algorithms (算法) to match users’ interests, whether it’s plants, sports, cats, or politics.

Kyle Chayka, a writer for The New Yorker, discusses this topic in his book, Filterworld. He explains that algorithms analyze user data to predict and influence what they will likely engage with. This means that instead of a simple, chronological feed, users encounter a dynamic stream, constantly adapting to their preferences. Chayka examines how these algorithmic recommendations control what we consume, from music and movies to food and travel destinations. He argues that this machine-driven selection process has turned us into passive consumers, making our preferences and tastes more similar.

Chayka points out that algorithms make us passive by always showing us content that we’re unlikely to click away from but won’t find too unexpected or challenging. This constant stream of recommendations reduces our exposure to diverse or challenging content, subtly shaping our preferences and behaviors.

Moreover, Chayka points out that algorithms also pressure content creators, like musicians and artists, to tailor their work to fit these digital platforms. For instance, musicians on Spotify or TikTok might focus on creating catchy hooks at the beginning of their songs to grab the listener’s attention.

Despite the strong presence of these algorithms, Chayka believes that regulation could reduce their influence. He suggests that if Meta, the parent company of Facebook, were required to separate its various services, like Instagram or WhatsApp, and make them compete with each other, it could give users more control and choice over their digital consumption.

In summary, the change from simple, time-ordered social. media posts to algorithm-driven content has a big impact on both the viewers and the creators, influencing what we see, hear, and even think. Chayka’s insights highlight the need for greater awareness and potentially more regulation in our increasingly digital world.

1. According to the text, how have social media platforms changed in the past ten years?

A．They show posts in a time-based order.

B．They prioritize posts from friends and family.

C．They make adjustments to satisfy users’ needs.

D．They provide more content to meet different needs.

2. What does Kyle Chayka think of algorithmic recommendations?

A．They make users more active consumers.

B．They shape users’ preferences and behaviors.

C．They reduce the influence of content creators.

D．They expose users to diverse and challenging content.

3. How do algorithms influence musicians’ work on digital platforms?

A．By encouraging musicians to create longer songs.

B．By discouraging musicians from using catchy hooks.

C．By giving musicians more control and choice over their music.

D．By requiring musicians to create their work to fit the platforms.

4. What can be concluded from the text?

A．Tech companies should have more departments.

B．Social media algorithms give content creators less opportunities.

C．Social media algorithms flatten our culture by making decisions for us.

D．Network platforms have increased the common recommendations for 10 years.

7 . Even if you haven’t held a conversation with Siri or Alexa, you’ve likely encountered a chatbot online. They often appear in a chat window that pops up with a friendly greeting: Thank you for visiting our site.How can I help you today? Depending on the site, the chatbot is programmed to respond accordingly and even ask follow-up questions.

Chatbots are a form of conversational AI designed to simplify human interaction with computers. They are programmed to simulate human conversation and exhibit intelligent behavior that is equivalent to that of a human.

Chatbots communicate through speech or text. Both rely on artificial intelligence technologies like machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), which is a branch of artificial intelligence that teaches machines to read, analyze and interpret human language. This technology gives chatbots a baseline for understanding language structure and meaning. NLP, in essence, allows the computer to understand what you are asking and how to appropriately respond.

With developments in deep learning and reinforcement learning, chatbots can interpret more complexities in language and improve the dynamic nature of conversation between human and machine. Essentially, a chatbot tries to match what you’ve asked to an intent that it understands. The more a chatbot communicates with you, the more it understands and the more it learns to communicate like you and others with similar questions. Your positive responses reinforce its answers, and then it uses those answers again.

From customer service chatbots online to personal assistants in our homes,chatbots have started to enter our lives. In almost every industry, companies are using chatbots to help customers easily navigate their websites, answer simple questions and direct people to the relevant points of contact. Personal assistants like Siri and Alexa are designed to respond to a wide range of scenarios and queries, from current weather and news updates to personal calendars, music selections and random questions.

1. Why does the author mention Siri and Alexa in Paragraph 1?

A．To explain how a chatbot works.	B．To show where to find a chatbot.
C．To give examples of chatbots.	D．To compare different chatbots.

2. What is the basis of chatbots?

A．Language study.	B．Data transmission.
C．Social interaction.	D．Natural language processing.

3. What does the underlined word “reinforce” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Inspire.

B．Strengthen.

C．Organize.

D．Match.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The future trend of chatbots.	B．The author’s predictions.
C．The effects of chatbots.	D．The applications of chatbots.

8 . A craftsman is a man who makes things ________ with his hands.

A．skill

B．skillful

C．skillfully

D．skills

9 . —Why do so many Indian companies want her to work for them?
—She can deal with foreign customers very well. It’s her ________.

A．decision

B．shortage

C．satisfaction

D．advantage

10 . The conflict between Russia and Ukraine ________ on the Feb. 24th, 2022.

A．stood out

B．got through

C．took in

D．broke out