1 . Pindar Van Arman is a painter, but he’s also a software designer. He has built some machines and worked on a DARPA challenge team in California to build a self-driving car. His latest project? A robot painter, BitPaintr.
BitPaintr is Van Arman’s fifth robot in 10 years. Earlier versions included devices that produced simpler paintings with algorithms(算法). But the idea for BitPaintr is simple: A user just uploads a picture, and it can paint totally on its own and develop its own style.
Although his friends joke that he has invented a really expensive, slow, bad painter, Van Arman says teaching a machine how to be creative has helped him get to the bottom of what creativity is—and appreciate it.
“When you’re trying to teach a machine to do something that’s easy for humans, it really makes you sit back and see what humans are doing,” he says.
So what is creativity, then, if a robot with a paintbrush can be—or appear to be—just as creative as a human with a paintbrush?
Mark Riedl, a professor at the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing, says it depends on how you define creativity. “There is creativity and Creativity,” Riedl says. “Being ‘creative’ usually has something to do with the little things that we do hundreds of times in our daily lives. They could be creative, but usually aren’t. To be ‘Creative’ is to have an imagination that will have a huge impact on a social level—the Picassos and the Mozarts of the world; the people who have produced something that’s taken on this additional level of meaning.”
Riedl admits what robots create is far from human-level quality art, but he sees robots entering the creative process as a positive thing.
“We want the computers to keep up with us,” he says. “And thanks to researchers like Van Arman, it seems like they will, although they will not replace us, but to help us to be more creative.”
1. Which is a new quality of BitPaintr?| A．Simplicity. | B．Creativity. | C．Speed. | D．Profitability. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．They will defeat the greatest artists soon. |
| B．They can produce “Creative” things by themselves. |
| C．They will learn more from the Picassos and the Mozarts. |
| D．They can help us to do daily things in more “creative” ways. |
| A．Can BitPaintr-like Robots Replace Artists in the Future? |
| B．Why Do People Have Sharply Different Views on AI Robots? |
| C．What Is the Difference Between the Two Kinds of Creativity? |
| D．Can BitPaintr Be Considered a “Creative” Painting Software? |
2 . Farmers have long relied on things that work without their involvement — bees to pollinate (授粉) flowers, earthworms (蚯蚓) to turn the soil, swallows to eat pests — to make sure that crops grow the right way. Now a team of British researchers is trying to take this hands-off thinking in a high-tech direction. Last October, scientists at Harper Adams University started a farm called the Hands Free Hectare to make the entire process of farming — from sowing and fertilizing to harvest — fully automatic. The project has just succeeded with five tons of robot-grown barley (大麦).
“We believe the best idea is that in the future, farmers will manage groups of smaller, autonomous machines, ” the researchers explained. “They will go out and work in the fields, allowing the farmer to use their time more effectively instead of having to drive up and down the fields.”
At the moment, agricultural machines — very large and heavy — can cover a lot of space quickly. But there are shortcomings. “Fertilizer gets sprayed over entire farms, regardless of the different needs of different crops. They’re also so heavy that they’re damaging farmers’ soils,” researcher Jonathan Gill said.
Gill and his colleagues went smaller: a tractor, a combine and a harvester, which followed a programmed route, using GPS. Altogether, they spent less than ￡200, 000 on equipment, and used open-source technology and a drone (无人机). Eventually the system will be complex enough to treat different parts of a field, or even individual plants, differently.
The team is quick to caution that they don’t want to put farmers out of work. They said, “Instead of being busy in the fields, the farmer will manage the machines and monitor their crops.” The next stop for the barley will be a brewery. That’s not going to be completely automatic. At least not yet.
1. What feature of bees, earthworms and swallows inspired scientists?| A．Their dependence on nature. | B．Their special way of survival. |
| C．Their selfless love for the earth. | D．Their natural involvement in farming. |
| A．Freeing workers totally. | B．Reducing the cost of harvest. |
| C．Improving the accuracy of farming. | D．Increasing the output of different crops. |
| A．Gill’s project is still at the design stage. | B．Unemployment wouldn’t be a concern. |
| C．The brewery will realize automation soon. | D．Complete automatic farming is unrealistic. |
| A．The future of hands-free farming | B．The functions of agricultural machines |
| C．The development of automatic harvest | D．The shortcomings of traditional farming |
3 . How to Improve Your Sense of Self-worth
Self-worth is a key factor when it comes to your mental and physical health. Stress, depression and anger have all been shown to pave the way to illness and disease.
Let yourself off the hook. As the saying goes, it is better to try something and fail than to not try anything. Focus on goals that are linked to activities you are interested in. Don’t care about whether or not you achieve your goal in full, just enjoying the process.
Keep your body healthy. Eat a balanced diet and stay physically active to keep your body in good shape. You will look better, feel better and have more energy for new activities.
Be aware of your advantages.
If you feel good about yourself, have a positive outlook and stay active and involved, you’re more likely to be happy and healthy.
| A．Rebuild your identity. |
| B．Find out your original roles. |
| C．These emotions influence your self-worth. |
| D．You will enjoy a sense of purpose and pleasure from it. |
| E．Remind yourself of your best qualities and make a list of them. |
| F．But a healthy level of self-worth can deal with life’s challenges well. |
| G．Therefore, increasing your self-worth with these methods is necessary. |
4 . The health of our oceans is related to the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents (洋流) playing a key role in reflecting Earth’s climate. A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.
This significant research provides the first documented proof of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC (大西洋经向翻转环流). Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the data in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to track down the AMOC’s performance over time. Their findings reveal a change: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow remained unchanged. However, starting in the mid-1990s, a marked decline in its strength was observed, with a striking reduction in its speed.
Mishonov explains the signs of weakening circulation in Atlantic ocean currents, stating, “If AMOC slows down, the heat exchange will be reduced, which in turn will affect the climate, causing hot areas to get hotter and cold areas to get colder.” This imbalance could have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, possibly leading to more extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, disorders to marine (海洋的) ecosystems, and a mass of other climate feedbacks.
Mishonov’s research also touches on the cultural spirit, referring to the dramatic description of a similar scene in the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. While he stated that the film’s scenes with explosive effects is highly exaggerated and not supported by the scientific community, the hidden message—that a significant slowdown in the AMOC could lead to great and unpredictable climate changes—resonates with (与……共鸣) many experts.
As the scientific community continues to uncover the mysteries of our oceans, the significance of Mishonov and his workmates’ work cannot be overstated. Their research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between ocean currents and global climate.
1. How was the research carried out?| A．By referring to huge data. | B．By recording ocean movements. |
| C．By modeling the ocean currents. | D．By doing practical experiments. |
| A．The increased heat exchange has an impact on the climate. |
| B．Rising sea levels from climate change could be prevented. |
| C．The slowdown of AMOC leads to extreme climate conditions. |
| D．The heated temperature may quicken the movement of the ocean. |
| A．To stress how scientific the story is. |
| B．To warn people of uncertain climate change risks. |
| C．To criticize the exaggerated threat in the movie. |
| D．To draw attention to the explosive effects of the movie. |
| A．The AMOC: A Potential Risk to the Earth |
| B．Ocean Currents: The Very Signals of Our Planet |
| C．Water Temperature: A Lasting Unavoidable Change |
| D．Climate Change: An Increasing Concern Around the World |
5 . With stories about legends, romance and superpowers, Chinese online literary works are gaining a growing global readership.
Online literature, or web literature, refers to a new literary form created and published in a digital format (格式) on the Internet, which can include novels, poetry or prose. It mainly consists of original works which are posted onto a website previous to any type of physical publication in book form. Authors are free to build their stories on online reading platforms, which are usually update d on a daily basis. Fans log on to platforms, reading the latest content and paying for it. On online reading platforms, readers not only rank books based on their plot, word building, translation, but they also interact with the author.
Chinese web novels are popular among young Chinese, who share similar reading preferences with their overseas counterparts (相似的人). Popular Chinese web novels adopt the styles of Western fantasy novels which are familiar to Western readers, who also find freshness with elements from traditional Chinese culture. By the end of 2022, more than 16, 000 Chinese online works of literature had been exported abroad, reaching over 150 million readers outside China.
As a literature scholar who took notice of the phenomenon, Noah Forrin noticed the growing number of local writers overseas on WebNovel. He said they understand the preferences of the locals and are well aware of the taboos of their culture so that they can decide what can be included in their writing and what should be avoided, while having the potential to create popular online works for local readers using the production system of Chinese online literature.
The young scholar has full confidence for the future of online literature, since both the literary circle and readers are pushing authors to write better works. He believes adaptations to films, TV dramas, and games will also boost (促进) the development of online literature. “For now, Chinese online literature is seizing the moment, but other countries and cultural circles will join in, bringing about changes worldwide,” said the young scholar.
1. What can we learn about online literature?| A．Its off-line version is published earlier. | B．The authors usually update their works weekly. |
| C．It is a digital literary form with various types. | D．The readers can give comments and adapt the works. |
| A．Western literature is gradually losing its freshness. |
| B．Westerners are crazy about traditional Chinese culture. |
| C．The novels combine Western styles and Chinese elements. |
| D．Readers overseas have the same reading habits as Chinese readers. |
| A．Something unacceptable. | B．Something hidden. |
| C．Something unnoticed. | D．Something available. |
| A．To explain the features of online literature. |
| B．To show the popularity of Chinese online literature. |
| C．To introduce different attitudes to Chinese online literature. |
| D．To compare Chinese online literature with that of Western countries. |
6 . Fu Zai, a lovely corgi only six months old who has been trained to be China’s first corgi police dog, made his debut (亮相) during the opening day of a police camp in Weifang, Shandon g Province.
His debut once again hit people’s fixed idea that “little short legs” cannot join the police force. Unlike those long-limbed dogs full of strength and energy, Fu Zai quickly went viral online thanks to his symbolic smile, special short legs and excellent explosion device-seeking abilities.
As a reserve police dog, Fu Zai faces a “heavy workload”: training is scheduled for every morning and afternoon, involving a variety of subjects, such as obedience (服从) exercising, bomb search, sniffing techniques and so on. Throughout the whole process, Fu Zai stood out and outperformed many of his peers at two months old.
However, some have doubted whether this adorable police dog can actually be qualified. In the face of questioning, Fu Zai performed well thanks to its unique advantages in the training. “His strong environmental adaptability, his desire for possession (拥有) of items and his fondness of food are particularly beneficial to our training,” said Wang Yanan, head of the police dog base of the Weifang Public Security Bureau.
“Police dogs are cute, but trainers have done a lot of work and effort to train them,” said Wang. “After a period of further training to adapt to the complex environment, Fu Zai is sure to be appointed and given missions.”
Following four months of training, Fu Zai now can take advantage of his short legs to directly search beneath the car and easily search narrow spaces. He can also improve interactions between police dogs and the public because of his appearance.
1. What should police dogs be like in people’s mind?| A．Energetic and fierce. | B．Smart and cute. |
| C．Devoted and calm. | D．Long-legged and strong. |
| A．He has become a qualified police dog. | B．He can adapt to the surroundings easily. |
| C．He performed best in the training process. | D．He met some problems due to his short legs. |
| A．Confident. | B．Serious. | C．Interested. | D．Concerned. |
| A．Every man has his faults. | B．A good dog deserves a good bone. |
| C．Good things come to those who wait. | D．Never judge a book by its cover. |
7 . If you’re searching for a new way to work, we’ve put together a list of some great options for you to look into.
SANODESK QS+ electric standing desk www.sanodeskqs.co.uk
This desk is made from maple wood and primarily designed to be used as a computer desk. It has a white frame and a base made from alloy steel (合金钢) that can hold up to 60kg. This model also has a control button, for adjusting the direction and height of the desk itself, whether you prefer to stand or sit.
YITAHOME electric standing desk www.yitahome.co.uk
Primarily designed as a computer desk, this model comes with a firm black frame, with more than enough room for a monitor, keyboard and other items. It also includes step-by-step instructions and a toolkit (工具箱) for easy installation (安装). Also featured is an intelligent keypad for height adjustment, which has anti-collision (防冲撞的) technology.
TRIUMPHKEY electric standing desk www.triumphkey.co.uk
This desk is two-double, with a main desk and an attached monitor shelf. It is designed to have at least 60kg capacity, with an industrial grade steel frame keeping it in place. Also featured are two preset adjustable height settings, ranging from 72cm to 117cm, depending on your preferred working height.
PANANA electric standing desk www.panana.co.uk
Great for home office use, this electric desk comes in a brown finish, with its top material made from firm iron, with engineered wood as the base material. The desk also has an adjustable height feature and an extra installation instructions, which will let you install it easily.
1. Which brand will you choose if you need to control the direction of the desk?| A．SANODESK QS+. | B．YITAHOME. | C．TRIUMPHKEY. | D．PANANA. |
| A．www.sanodeskqs.co.uk. | B．www.yitahome.co.uk. |
| C．www.triumphkey.co.uk. | D．www.panana.co.uk. |
| A．They are made of steel. | B．They hold at most 60kg. |
| C．They provide installation instructions. | D．They are adjustable in height. |
8 . When it comes to architectural accomplishments, humans like to think they stand at the top. That is to underestimate the astonishing achievement s of social insects; for example, white ants raise skyscraping nests. The true master builders of the insect world, however, are the hundreds of species of stingless bees.
In a new study, Ms. Di Pietro and her colleagues observed over 400 colonies of the stingless bee species in a large bee house in Brazil in 2022 and 2023. Around 95% of the colonies exhibited honeycombs (a structure made by bees) built up in horizontal layers (水平分层), like tiered wedding cakes, while the rest adopted a spiral (螺旋的) structure.
Since the stingless bee shows a strong preference for a horizontal-layer honeycomb structure, it’s surprising that spiral honeycombs occur. The team confirmed that there was no difference in the average cell-building rate between the two styles, and therefore no efficiency advantage.
In order to rule out a genetic explanation for the different styles, the researchers transplanted workers from colonies that built in one tradition to colonies that built in the other, having first emptied the host structures of their native adults. The imported workers soon switched to the local style, which was then continued by the colony’s young insects as they eventually matured into workers.
Dr. Tom Wenseleers guessed that the bees may switch styles as a way of coping with the build-up of small construction errors made by their fore-runners. Such a process, in which multiple organisms indirectly affect each other’s behavior through the traces they leave in their environment, is known as stigmergy (共识主动性). The researchers later introduced a sign of spirals to the otherwise perfect horizontal-layer honeycombs, and found that it did indeed cause the bees to switch to building spirals.
These results suggest that stingless bees can pass on different building traditions across generations and individuals needn’t be instructed by their peers. “The findings are the clearest demonstration of cultural differences naturally appearing in insects. Insect culture would once have been thought impossible,” says behavioral biologist Andrew Whiten, who wasn’t involved in the research. “Less than a century ago, culture was thought to be uniquely human.”
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?| A．By posing a contrast. | B．By reporting an event. |
| C．By supposing a situation. | D．By justifying an assumption. |
| A．It is a result driven by genetic factors. |
| B．It involves cost and efficiency considerations. |
| C．It is switched constantly between several styles. |
| D．It shows flexibility in the changing environments. |
| A．The impact of fore-runners’ behavior on other stingless bees. |
| B．The underlying logic behind stingless bees’ building styles. |
| C．The advantages of maintaining stigmergy among stingless bees. |
| D．The significance of correcting small errors during construction. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Conservative. |
| C．Favorable. | D．Critical. |
If you love eating and drinking for free and are looking to make some money, there’s a job that suits you. A new type of service allows people to hire(雇佣) others to enjoy their favorite foods.
Chinese media recently reported on an increasingly popular service that people can go online and hire others to enjoy certain foods and drinks, and ask them to provide video evidence of them eating or drinking the said treats. People should pay from two to nine yuan for the service besides the cost of the food.
Pearl milk tea(珍珠奶茶) is a particularly popular service, as the chewy (耐嚼的) balls and tea drink is so popular these days. There are also some people who want to pay the one who wants to eat fried chicken or hot pot for them. The trend(趋势) has spread to other areas such as selling videos of pet owners feeding their animals and people watching TV series for others. One person in Harbin even offered to sell photos of buyers’ names written in the heavy snow.
So why would anyone pay a total stranger a treat rather than enjoy it themselves? Well, clearly, the online service is so cheap that some people simply do it because of boredom. Some sellers explained that most customers buy their service because they’re hungry at night while they’re on a diet. Eating and drinking by others may help customers reduce the desire(欲望) and avoid high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other health problems, sellers said. While others get satisfaction in watching others enjoy their favorite treats.
This service has garnered a lot of attention on social media. Although it’s not exactly a get-rich-quickly job, there are quite a lot of people willing to do it for the free treats alone. Some people describing it as their dream job.
1. How much money does it cost to consume certain foods and drinks besides the cost of the food?(no more than 5 words)2. Why would some people pay someone to eat or drink for them? (no more than 15 words)
3. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 5? (1 word)
4. Why do some people describe the job as their dream job? (no more than 10 words)
5. What’s your attitude towards hiring others to consume tasty food? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
10 . Popular Countries to Visit in 2024
ZimbabweZimbabwe is a country that travelers all over the world always talk about, not only because it is a friendly country, but also because it is one of Africa’s safest places. In Zimbabwe, you can visit many tourist attractions. For example, Big Five-filled national parks, forested mountains and the Victoria Falls. Here you can see African lions, African elephants, African buffaloes, African leopards, and rhinoceroses, which are called the big five animals.
JordanIf you have a taste for adventure (冒险), you will certainly love Jordan, because there is a 650-km-long path in Jordan and you can have a 36-day hike here. There are several other places for people to visit, for example, the Rift Valley is the best place that attracts travelers fond of adventure to challenge. Besides, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, which can leave a deep impression on people.
IndonesiaFrom Sumatra to Papua, more than 17,000 islands make Indonesia a multicultural(多元文化的) country. On these islands, there are many kinds of tasty food, which could offer tourists good feelings and experiences. Thanks to heavy investment(投资) in new air, land and sea connections by the government, people from 169 countries can enter Indonesia with free visas(签证) . It has never been easier to explore this warm country.
BelarusBelarus becomes more and more popular because of the relaxed visa requirements. There are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties in Belarus. In its beautiful old towns, people can go to the fashionable bars and join the happy summer street parties. Minsk, the capital of Belarus, has been chosen as the host city for many global events and meetings. 2024 European Games is on the list.
1. Where will you go if you are interested in African animals?| A．Zimbabwe. | B．Jordan. | C．Indonesia. | D．Belarus. |
| A．The 650-km-long path. | B．The 36-day hike. |
| C．The Rift Valley. | D．The Dead Sea. |
| A．Indonesia is one of the safest places in the world. |
| B．Many foreigners can visit Indonesia with free visas. |
| C．Indonesia is famous for its tasty food. |
| D．More than 17, 000 cities form the warm country. |
| A．Because the visa requirements have been less strict. |
| B．Because there are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties. |
| C．Because people can get 30-day free visas. |
| D．Because people can join the happy summer street parties. |
| A．Zimbabwe. | B．Jordan. | C．Indonesia. | D．Belarus. |
