1 . Honored as “one of the best ever”, the 19th Asian Games, held on August 25, 2023, in Hangzhou, has been highly praised.
The Asian Games is the largest sporting event in Asia. In 1948, Guru Dutt Sondhi, the leader of Indian sports, felt that the Far Eastern Games were not good enough to reflect the level of Asian sports and the unity spirit of Asian people, and suggested establishing the Asian Games so that all Asian countries could take part in.
The Hangzhou Asian Games is the third Asian multi-sport event held in China, with 12, 417 athletes from all 45 Asian countries and regions participating. Some rising sports that are popular among young people appeared at this Games, such as break dance and e-sports. Weiqi, a mind sport, have returned to the Hangzhou Games after a 13-year absence since it appeared at the Guangzhou Games in 2010. Certain regional sport in Asia, especially dragon boat racing, though not recognized as Olympic sports, also is medal-awarded event at the Asian Games.
The design details of the victory ceremony elements, like the bunch of flower, named “Fruits of Victory”, combines Chinese elements such as rice ears and lotus pods, indicating harvests, and wishes the athletes a journey of accomplishment and honor. The podium (领奖台) displays a purple rainbow on its outside, reflecting energy and innovation. Its white surface shows the spirit of unity, harmony and success among Asian nations and regions.
“Technically, we have had one of the best Asian Games ever. And the coverage of the Games from TV and the written media is also among the highest ever in the history of the Asian Games. The basketball last night (Saturday) attracted almost 17 million TV viewers.” said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, acting director general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). “We have about 12, 000 athletes participating in the Games. The number of officials and the technical officials is 4, 975 and 4, 700, respectively. This by far has been the biggest and the largest Asian Games ever.” Tiwari added.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The regions of the Asian Games. | B．The spirit of the Asian Games. |
| C．The participants of the Asian Games. | D．The origin of the Asian Games. |
| A．Weiqi has been a competition event for 13 years. |
| B．Break dance made its first appearance in the Games. |
| C．It involved the largest number of Asian athletes in history. |
| D．The Olympics and the Asian Games share the same medal-awarded sports. |
| A．Harvest and harmony. | B．Unity and honor. |
| C．Energy and creation. | D．Nobility and achievements. |
| A．To introduce the size of athlete participation. |
| B．To stress the success of the best Olympic Games. |
| C．To highlight the excellent organization of the event. |
| D．To praise the highest viewership of the basketball game. |
2 . It is well-known that earthquake is one of the most serious natural disasters. Because of its sudden nature, the traditional earthquake prediction method is often difficult to predict it accurately, and has always been a difficult problem in the field of earth science. Recently, artificial intelligence is showing promise in earthquake prediction, challenging the long-held belief that it is impossible. Researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, have developed an AI algorithm (算法) that correctly predicted 70% of earthquakes a week in advance during a trial in China and provided accurate strength calculations (强度计算) for the predicted earthquakes.
The research team believes their method succeeded because they used a relatively simple machine learning approach. The AI was provided with a set of statistical features based on the team’s knowledge of earthquake physics (地震物理学), and then instructed to train itself using a five-year database of earthquake recordings. Once trained, the Al provided its prediction by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes within the background sounds in the Earth.
This work is clearly a milestone in research for AI-driven earthquake prediction. “You don’t see earthquakes coming,” explains Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the Texas Seismological Network Program (TexNet). “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with the 70% accuracy, that’s a huge result and could help minimize economic and human losses and possibly improve earthquake preparation worldwide.”
While it is unknown whether the same approach will work at other locations, the researchers are confident that their AI algorithm could produce more accurate predictions if used in areas with reliable earthquake tracking networks. The next step is to test artificial intelligence in Texas, since UT’s Bureau TexNet has locations and over six years worth of continuous records, making it an ideal location in 300 earthquakes for these purposes.
Eventually, the authors hope to combine the system with physics-based models. This strategy could prove especially important where data is poor or lacking. “That may be a long way off, but many advances such as this one, are what moves science forward,” says Scott Tinker, the bureau’s director.
1. What can we infer from the passage?| A．AI can predict earthquakes accurately. |
| B．AI is provided with accurate strength calculations. |
| C．AI can prevent the potential earthquakes from coming. |
| D．AI forecasts earthquakes by analyzing background sounds. |
| A．Building many earthquake stations. | B．Over ten years of continuous records. |
| C．Reliable earthquake tracing networks. | D．Researcher’s confidence in the technology. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Supportive. | C．Disapproving. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．AI helps reduce possible earthquakes by 70%. |
| B．AI predicts earthquakes with a certain accuracy. |
| C．AI algorithm improves earthquake preparation worldwide. |
| D．AI algorithm produces accurate predictions about earthquakes. |
3 . Rap music has long been the poster child for negativity in society for a number of decades. It has been criticized (批评) in the media and seen by a good number of people as a bad influence on citizens in general. The lyrics might have something to blame in this regard as they often seemingly celebrate violence as well as drugs and alcohol. The reality is that rap music is greatly misunderstood. In spite of the negativity that often surrounds it, however, rap music can have a positive influence on listeners.
One of these positive effects is that it has been used as a great unifier of diverse populations around the world. It started as a subculture among African American communities in America but it is now a phenomenon of global culture. As a matter of fact, it isn't only limited to African American communities, as non black communities make up seventy five percent of the global rap audience. Its infectious rhythms, catchy beats, and relatable lyrics hold universal attraction that goes beyond cultural and language barriers.
Rap has also been vital in promoting social and political awareness among the youth of today. Rap music educates people from different points of views and raises many social issues. Rap is channel (渠道) for people to speak freely about their view on political or social issues and by doing so, it encourages teenagers to become concerned and aware of these issues. A few of them that rap has created awareness in are racial discrimination (歧视), the importance of education and believing in your dreams.
Rap music is entertainment (娱乐) and should not be treated any differently than any other form of entertainment out there. If critics of rap music still believe that rap only sends negative messages, they should listen closer. The bottom line is that all rap music is not degenerate (堕落的) and consideration should be taken when analysing the message that the music is presenting
1. Why is rap music often connected with negativity?| A．It has long been the poster child for negativity. |
| B．It has shown a bad influence on citizens in general. |
| C．It seems to celebrate violence as well as drugs and alcohol. |
| D．It started as a subculture among African American communities. |
| A．Its positive influence on listeners around the world. |
| B．Its engaging music elements like rhythms, lyrics and beats. |
| C．Its continuous promotion of social and political awareness. |
| D．Its African American culture that fascinates non black communities. |
| A．By making social issues more entertaining. |
| B．By providing a platform to voice their opinions |
| C．By stressing the importance of education and dreams. |
| D．By drawing teenagers’ attention to racial discrimination. |
| A．Rap music is now unfairly treated. |
| B．Rap music is suitable for everyone. |
| C．Rap music is difficult to understand. |
| D．Rap music is simply for entertainment. |
4 . Australia Day, on 26 January, is in memory of the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet of 11 British ships, arrived at Sydney Cove to mark the birth of the colony (殖民). Every year, many in this nation of 24 million people gather on beaches and around barbeques to celebrate. From boats competitions, camel races, to outdoor concerts, Australians mark a public holiday more popularly treated as a late summer festival than the serious national day its founders intended it to be — a unifying celebration of the good fortune of being Australian and the values that unite the nation: freedom, independence, a fair go, mateship.
However, not all Australians feel the same about the day. Recently there has been much controversy over the correctness of celebrating on this date. Native Australians, in particular, have long referred to this date as "Invasion (入侵) Day" or "National Day of Mourning (哀悼)" in protest of the arrival of the British peoples. They mourn their ancestors who suffered and died during colonization. There has even been a growing push to change the date of the national celebration, a move popular with younger Australians but less so with older generations.
In response to the protests, the Australian government has recognized the traditional owners of the lands on which Australia Day activities take place, in the hope that Australians from all backgrounds come together to celebrate Australia as a multicultural society. "Our desire is that Australia Day is a time for inclusion, as well as an opportunity for greater understanding," one officer from The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts said.
1. What is the original purpose of Australia Day?| A．To observe a late summer festival. |
| B．To honor the arrival of the British. |
| C．To celebrate national identity and values. |
| D．To mourn the natives who suffered during colonization. |
| A．Debate. | B．Defence. | C．Faith. | D．Puzzle. |
| A．They mourned the suffering of native Australians. |
| B．They recognized native Australians’ independence. |
| C．They protested against native Australians’ ownership of the land. |
| D．They brought loss of life and hardship among native Australians. |
| A．More Australia Day activities will be organized. |
| B．The date of Australia Day will soon be changed. |
| C．The protests of changing the date have already been settled. |
| D．Australia Day should be celebrated with understanding and respect. |
5 . For many kids, the Internet is at their fingertips. From computers to smartphones, a web of information is open to them. According to a new report, about three out of four kids aged 12 to 15 connect the Internet using a mobile device from time to time. Many younger kids are online too.
Julian Zeitlinger, 9, from New Jersey, uses his computer to watch videos and play games. To keep him safe online, his parents monitor his web use and discuss Internet safety with him. “I ask my parents whether something is nice or bad.” Julian says.
Mobile devices offer more ways than ever to share personal information. The information can be dangerous in the wrong hands. A study found that 62% of children aged 8 to 17 have had an unpleasant online experience.
Have you ever had to enter a parent’s e-mail address when signing up for a website? That safety measure is there because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act(COPPA). The law says sites for kids under 13 cannot collect personal information, such as a phone number or full name, without a parent’s permission.
This July, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will update COPPA for the first time since the law was created in 1998 when there were no smart phones. The nature of the way kids get online has changed, FTC lawyer Phyllis Marcus said.
When the changes take effect, COPPA will apply to mobile devices and newer forms of advertising. It will expand what falls under “personal information” to include videos, photographs, and services that give users location.
COPPA doesn’t cover everything that can go wrong online. That is why kids and parents need to know what to look out for and to stop and think before sharing information online.
“There is a misunderstanding that if a site is following COPPA, it is totally safe,” says privacy expert ShaiSamet. He runs kidSAFE, which checks whether a site meets kidSAFE standards and is safe. “It’s important that kids know how useful the Internet is but that it also can be dangerous if you are not careful.” he adds.
1. Julian’s parents monitor his web use to make sure ______.| A．he stays safe on the Internet |
| B．he doesn’t play computer games |
| C．he controls his online time |
| D．he doesn’t watch too many videos |
| A．It says no to any kind of advertising. |
| B．It prevents users from making their location public. |
| C．It covers everything that goes wrong online. |
| D．It broadens the concept of personal information. |
| A．formal websites are comparatively safe |
| B．the Internet is becoming safer and safer |
| C．COPPA can ensure their complete safety |
| D．daily checks prevent future online problems |
| A．To ask parents to look out for their kids. |
| B．To talk about online safety for children. |
| C．To introduce a new law. |
| D．To sell an online product. |
6 . The 4 Best Museums to Visit in Boston
Boston is a city filled with history, which is one of the reasons it’s a great destination to visit. Exploring Boston’s museum scene will give you a taste for what this New England city is all about. Read on for the best in the city.
MIT Museum
The MIT Museum’s main purpose is to share science and technology research and innovation. There are all sorts of shows with inventions that will spark conversation around a variety of topics related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Along with many hands-on experiments in the afternoon.
Hours: 10:00 a. m.-5:00 p. m. Self-guided tour tickets available for students and seniors ($5) and adults($10).
The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts may be the most popular museum in Boston. Founded in 1870, the museum has grown over the years to now feature nearly 500, 000 works of art. The museum also hosts special events throughout the year, along with art classes for those interested in improving their skills.
Hours: Monday-Sunday 10 a. m.-5 p. m.. Tickets: Adults-$25, Students-$23, Children-$10.
The Sports Museum
Located on the 5th and 6th floors of the TD Garden is The Sports Museum. It’s here that you’ll see a half-mile worth of exhibits and learn about the history of all the Boston sports teams and their championship titles over the years. (For more information, you may click here.)
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a. m.-5 p. m. and Sunday 11 a. m.-5 p. m. Tickets (same price for each tour): Kids 6 and under-FREE, Kids 7-18-$10, Adults-$15.
The Museum of Science
One of the most popular museum s in Boston, the Museum of Science has something for everyone with over 500 shows that are both educational and interactive. The museum has a big emphasis on STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math), and you’ll see this brought to life through their exhibits throughout the year.
Hours: Saturday to Thursday 9 a. m.-5 p. m. and Friday 9 a. m.-9 p. m.
Tickets: Kids-$23, Adults -$28, Seniors -$24 for Exhibit Hall. Save $3 per ticket by purchasing Exhibit Hall tickets a day in advance online.
1. Where can a group go if they want to visit a museum with classes?| A．MIT Museum. | B．The Museum of Fine Arts. |
| C．The Sports Museum. | D．The Museum of Science. |
| A．They open until 9 p. m. | B．They provide discounts online. |
| C．They offer chances to do experiments. | D．They are concerned with science. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A research paper. | C．A website page. | D．A course plan. |
7 . Over the years, April Fools’ Day has become larger than life. While it may be seen as just a bit of fun, there is more to jokes and humour than may be obvious, begging the question: are the jokes on the 1st of April a good or a bad idea?
Every year, individuals and newspapers present jokes on the 1st of April that may be funny, yet sometimes causing an unexpected upheaval. One radio announcement made in 1949, that a mile-wide swarm of wasps (一群黄蜂) was heading for Auckland, was taken a bit too seriously. The news even came with advice on how to prepare for the incoming insects, resulting in all residents walking outdoors tucking (塞) their trousers into their socks, wearing masks (面罩) as well as setting honey traps outside their doors.
What makes things funny? This is a million-dollar question and one that’s not easily answered. First, it’s influenced by the context, the culture, and personal opinions, meaning that it’s not consistent (一致的) across populations. Besides, if a joke is violating (违反) a norm or rule, it’s more likely to be regarded as funny. Such violations need to be harmless, as they can otherwise be considered unpleasant. In terms of personal experience, serious events may be considered funnier over time, while stubbing (踩) a toe, considered a small violation, would lose its comedic effect over time. Interestingly, people, children, in particular, have been found to be more likely to laugh when they are near others compared to when alone.
Jokes may not seem serious but can actually serve social functions like managing emotions and also be used to deal with matters in work. For example, studies have found that there is a meaningful function of humour in healthcare settings, as it strengthens the connection between medical staffs and patients as well as relieves stressful situations linked to end-of-life care among nursing professionals.
However, it’s suggested that jokes be used cautiously. For example, David Letterman gained reputation (名声) for an interview he had done with Lindsay Lohan in 2013, when the audience had laughed loudly at his repeated questions about her going to receive treatment. However, 8 years later, his comments were seen as offensive (冒犯的). So it’s important to ensure that any violations made are not significant enough to damage your future fame.
1. What does the underlined word “upheaval” probably mean in paragraph 2?| A．Upset. | B．Fun. | C．Annoyance. | D．Popularity. |
| A．People’s opinion of jokes differs. | B．Jokes remain humorous all the time. |
| C．Jokes can strengthen our connection. | D．Children are more likely to laugh than adults. |
| A．By listing figures. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By answering questions. |
| A．To tell us the function of jokes. | B．To provide information about jokes. |
| C．To help make up funny jokes. | D．To propose telling jokes carefully. |
8 . The International Day of Happiness, falling on March 20 every year, serves to remind people of the significance of happiness.
Sally Lyubomirsky, a researcher of positive psychology, provides a clear description of happiness.
People’s levels of subjective (主观的) happiness are influenced by both internal factors and external factors, according to the authors of the book Culture and Psychology.
From the perspective of economics, Ted Pettinger, said that factors affecting happiness can include income, quality of work and quality of consumption. Among them, proper income is key. He believes that at low levels of income, increasing income is generally agreed to increase happiness as it allows a person to buy necessary goods and services such as health care and education.
The truth is that happiness itself is different for everyone, so everyone defines it differently and pursues it in a variety of ways.
| A．Several important factors contribute to a person’s happiness. |
| B．In general, happiness is significant to people. |
| C．With the income, people can have the food, shelter and necessary education. |
| D．According to her, happiness can be described as the experience of joy or positive well-being, |
| E．However, after certain income levels, rising income contributes little to overall happiness. |
| F．More than that, experts in medical fields found that genes might influence happiness. |
| G．But what exactly is happiness and how can one achieve it? |
9 . On Monday, I walked into a conference center and, instead of flashing a card with my name and photo, I positioned myself in front of a head-height camera the size of my fist. Seconds later, the screen read: “PLEASEENTER.” No one scanned the digital pass on my phone. Facial-recognition software did all the work.
As facial recognition appear in more public places including airports and concert places, you might be wondering how you’re supposed to feel about it.
Companies providing face matching software often tout (鼓吹) speed, convenience, security and contactless benefits for customers. Most also stress that it’s only a choice. While the answer comes down to the individual, you should ask yourself: Do you want this firm to store your biometric (生物统计的) information? Are you getting something useful in return?
Facial recognition works by creating a map of your face. The map contains your unique measurements — the distance between your forehead and chin, or between your eyes. They are then changed into code called a face print. However, a company that stores your face data could have an entirely different purpose than what you agreed to. Besides, you can’t always track where your face ends up: one company sold facial-recognition tech based on billions of images collected from Facebook, LinkedIn and other sources.
Before agreeing to the use of biometric data, Josef Kittler, a professor of machine intelligence at the University of Surrey in the U. K., recommends finding out three things: the purpose of collecting your data, what happens to your face image once you no longer need the service, and how the data is removed.
Face scanning will become more popular in our travels and entertainment, as well as other areas such as education and banking. We’ve just begun to understand the advantages and disadvantages.
1. What’s the author’s purpose of writing the first paragraph?| A．To tell the development of facial recognition. |
| B．To show the convenience of facial recognition. |
| C．To describe the author’s daily routine in the office. |
| D．To introduce the change of the author’s working style. |
| A．By collecting a person’s fingerprint. | B．By scanning the eyes of an individual. |
| C．By making a digital copy of a person’s face. | D．By analyzing the voice patterns of an individual. |
| A．It may cause data misuse. | B．It has a limited database. |
| C．It lacked relevant service. | D．It is not convenient enough. |
| A．Face scanning will be improved in the future. | B．We only use face scanning for entertainment. |
| C．Face scanning is already common in all areas. | D．We are still in the early stage of face scanning. |
10 . In the forest on Washington state’s outer coast, streets and sidewalks have appeared in recent weeks, representing the future of the Quinault Indian Nation. The coastal tribe (部落) has done more to deal with that hotter future than most places in the U.S. It is gradually becoming one of the first American communities to move inland as sea levels rise.
Each winter, the highest waves of the year threaten to flood Taholah, the largest Quinault village of 800 people. Flood forced the government to start the relocation of Taholah in 2022 to an upland site. In December, 2023, the Quinault government reached a milestone (里程碑) in its long push to provide safe housing for its people. While fully relocating the village is expected to take at least another decade, tribal officials hope the first Quinault elders can begin moving into new homes in the next year or two.
To deal with the human-driven climate change that coastal communities are facing, such an approach can cost millions of dollars and cause huge emotional distress. It’s been a long process to persuade tribal members to move to higher ground. One tribe member Lia Frenchman said there’s a generational divide, with some elders doubting whether the move would be necessary in their, or their children’s, lifetimes. Frenchman said she looked forward to moving uphill and protecting her family from the rising ocean. Still, she would miss the sounds of the surf and eagles overhead.
Despite the challenges, the approach of Taholah gives us a possible way-out. Global sea levels have risen about 7 inches over the past century due to heat-trapping pollution, with a similar rise forecast in just the next 30 years. Many communities may find this approach necessary as the Earth continues to warm and sea levels continue to rise.
1. Which is the challenge faced by the Quinaut government?| A．The safe places are hard to find. |
| B．The moving process is longer than expected. |
| C．The sea level rises too fast for the tribe to move. |
| D．Not all tribe members welcome the relocation. |
| A．She was concerned about eagles. |
| B．She was doubtful about the move. |
| C．She was unwilling to move inland. |
| D．She was aware of the existing danger. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Indifferent. | D．Negative. |
| A．The rising sea level will continue in the future. |
| B．The rising sea level is threatening coastal tribes. |
| C．A costal Indian tribe is escaping from a rising sea. |
| D．A costal Indian tribe is rebuilding houses for safety. |
