1 . When you watch a great film, there’s always a great mix of everything you enjoy: Explosions! Exotic (异国的) locations! Amazing stunts (特技)! And all of it anchored by famous A-list actors. However, all that could soon be changed.
Hollywood was rocked recently by an AI program called Sora. All you need to do is type in a description of what you want to watch, and it creates a video up to one minute long. This is possible because the programme has been fed thousands of hours of existing videos, searched through them for patterns, and then used this learning to create new content. As it develops, this technology could allow filmmakers to greatly expand their creativity. Simply give the computer program a script (脚本), tell it what actors you want, and it will create a movie for you. This will make it much cheaper to make films. AI might even help to create films tailored to personal tastes by analyzing viewing history and making a custom movie.
Amazing developments in AI could fuel a new era of filmmaking. However, there are concerns. Many argue that AI can’t be truly creative, as humans are. AI expert Bernard Marr writes, “No matter how impressive a piece of computer-created artwork might be, it’s always built from blocks carved out of the data that’s used to train it.”
AI actors could lead to a flood of poor quality, cheap films. As AI films copy and remix data from each other, researchers warn that this could lead to a “downward spiral”, where films become more similar and more boring over time.
“Human emotion must always come first,” says Avatar director James Cameron. AI actors may never recreate the complexity of emotions that humans can. They will probably stay trapped in the “uncanny valley” — the uncomfortable feeling we get when we see something that’s almost — but not quite — human.
1. Why is Sora mentioned in the text?| A．To explain the principles of AI filmmaking. |
| B．To highlight AI’s impact on filmmakers’ creativity. |
| C．To show how AI can change traditional filmmaking. |
| D．To introduce an AI program for creating custom films. |
| A．They may cause copyright issues. |
| B．They may be much like each other. |
| C．They may change the way humans enjoy films. |
| D．They may not be as impressive as human-made films. |
| A．Awkward. | B．Confused. | C．Frightened. | D．Shocked. |
| A．Sora Is Shaking Hollywood |
| B．Create Your Films with Sora |
| C．Should AI Replace Real Actors? |
| D．Does AI Guarantee Great Films? |
2 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch a performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best-known example is science fiction novel The Time Machine, written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, put forward by Wells, now universally refers to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as short cuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And Stephen Hawking says you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light, though building such a spaceship wouldn’t of course be simple.
Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveler were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveler wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角).
If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．It was H.G. Wells who invented the term “time machine”. |
| B．The Time Machine is one of the bestselling science fiction novels. |
| C．Works of Literature about time travel first appeared one hundred years ago. |
| D．There are films, comic books and poems adapted from the novel The Time Machine. |
| A．suggest the possibility of time travel |
| B．have pushed the invention of the first spaceship |
| C．have been proved wrong by some time travelers |
| D．have similarities because both are based on experiments |
| A．the traveler is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
| B．the traveler goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
| C．the grandfather’s death makes the traveler’s birth impossible |
| D．the reunion of the traveler and his grandfather brings happiness |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Unclear. | D．Unconcerned. |
3 . As April 18 marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, we’ve selected four archaeological (考古的) sites in China that deserve exploration.
Zhoukoudian, Beijing
Zhoukoudian, a UNESCO heritage site located 50 km from downtown Beijing, has been a significant site. At various parts of the site, scientists have unearthed the remains of early human “Peking Man” that date back more than 500,000 years, as well as of “Shandingdong Man”, who lived 30,000 years ago.
Sanxingdui Ruins site, Sichuan province
As one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins are believed to be the remains of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years.
The ruins are located in Guanghan city in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, covering 12 square kilometers.
The Yinxu Ruins, Henan province
The Yinxu Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Anyang city, Henan province, was an ancient capital of the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC-11th century BC).
Spreading across over 30 square kilometers, the site features the greatest number of oracle bone inscriptions (甲骨文) discovered so far in the world.
The Daming Palace, Shaanxi province
Famous for its super-large scale and magnificent buildings, Daming Palace was the main royal palace in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) where Tang emperors lived and dealt with state affairs.
Covering 3.2 square kilometers, it fully demonstrates the majestic style of grand architecture during the Tang empire.
1. Which site reflects the earliest human?| A．Zhoukoudian. |
| B．The Yinxu Ruins. |
| C．The Daming Palace. |
| D．Sanxingdui Ruins site. |
| A．The grand architecture. |
| B．Oracle bone inscriptions. |
| C．Royal palace in the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．The remains of the Shu Kingdom. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a history book. | D．In a guidebook. |
4 . In Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16. In the US children must go to school from the age of 6 to the ages between 14 and 16, depending on the state they live in.
Subjects
In England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum, which was introduced in 1988 and sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievement they should reach by the ages of 7,11,14, and 16, when they are tested. The National Curriculum does not apply to Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.
Examinations
At 16, students in England and Wales take GCSE examinations. These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects, and may involve a final examination, an assessment of work done during the two-year course, or both of these things. At 18 some students take A-level examinations, usually in no more than three subjects. It is necessary to have A levels in order to go to university.
In Scotland students take the SCE examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called Highers, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. In Scotland the university system is different from that in England and Wales. Courses usually last four years rather than three, and students study a large number of subjects as part of their degree.
1. In which parts of the world are the subjects taught only decided by the nation?| A．England and Wales. | B．England and Scotland. |
| C．US and Britain. | D．Wales and Scotland. |
| A．GCSE. | B．SCE. |
| C．Highers. | D．The Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. |
| A．In the US, only local government can decide the subjects. |
| B．In Scotland, students can take either the SCE examinations or the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. |
| C．In England and Wales, one cannot go to university without A levels. |
| D．As for a 16-year-old student in England and Wales, he has to take both GCSE examinations and a final examination. |
5 . The advantage of printed texts over digital ones has been seen in many previous studies, and education psychologists even have a name for the phenomenon: the “screen inferiority effect”, which refers to the phenomenon where students, and others, seem to understand more when reading printed texts. However, by and large, previous studies have compared print reading to reading on a computer screen, not the handheld devices modern students use for most of their reading.
Ladislao Salmerón, a researcher of educational psychology at the University of Valencia in Spain, and his workmates wanted to see if the screen inferiority effect occurs if you focus on handheld devices. So they searched existing studies and analyzed only data sets comparing print reading to reading on handheld devices.
Finally, they looked at dozens of studies, pooling results from more than 100,000 students. As with previous research, they found students who read printed texts constantly performed slightly better. Although small, Salmerón stresses, the effect observed could be of great significance. “In explaining this, we must consider that children in schools read every day, he says. “So this effect could be built up over time.”
Some scientists are trying to understand the reasons for the screen inferiority effect. One theory called the shallowing hypothesis (假说) assumes that when reading on digital devices, people are generally doing so for short periods of time and reading short pieces of text, causing them to be less efficient. Another theory holds that feeling each page and remembering whether it was at the beginning of the book or the end can help connect with your memory. But neither theory has been proven.
According to this study, Salmerón says, “First, printed texts shouldn’t be quit. Second, teachers should consider the goals of the tasks when deciding which reading medium to use.” He adds, “Tablets(平板电脑) may be well-suited for internet questioning tasks, but paper should be favoured to promote understanding of long texts.”
1. What drove Salmerón and his workmates to conduct the new study?| A．Effects of digital devices on education. |
| B．Challenges brought by reading devices. |
| C．Impacts of the screen inferiority effect. |
| D．One point ignored by previous research. |
| A．By conducting experiments. |
| B．By referring to past research. |
| C．By observing carefully in life. |
| D．By interviewing many students. |
| A．Its cause remains unclear. |
| B．It tends to last a long time. |
| C．It helps to improve one’s memory. |
| D．Its existence hasn’t been confirmed. |
| A．The study provides directions for educators. |
| B．The study advises people to read tablets more. |
| C．The study overstates the demand for printed texts. |
| D．The study focuses on how to understand long texts. |
6 . Despite being one of the most famous and most-visited attractions in the United States, Grand Canyon National Park still holds some surprises. Here are a few facts about the Grand Canyon you probably don’t know.
We don’t really know how old it is
It has long been believed that the Colorado River began carving the Grand Canyon about 6 million years ago, but a study contained a real shocker, suggesting that the process may have begun as far back as 70 million years. In all likelihood, the Grand Canyon as we know it today started out as a series of smaller canyons 70 million years ago, but the majority of the canyon did not begin to take shape until much more recently.
The Grand Canyon creates its own weather
Of all Grand Canyon facts, this one is pretty cool — no pun (双关语) intended. Sudden changes in elevation (海拔) have great effects on temperature and rainfall, so the weather you’re experiencing could change largely depending on where you are in the Grand Canyon. The coldest, wettest weather station in the area is the Bright Angel Ranger Station on the North Rim, while the hottest (and one of the driest) is just 8 miles away at Phantom Ranch.
There are lots of fossils in the area
While the dinosaurs might have missed out on seeing the Grand Canyon, lots of other fossils have been found that suggest other creatures often visited the area. They range from ancient marine fossils dating back 1.2 billion years to fairly recent land mammals that left their remains in canyon caves about 10,000 years ago.
Fish are relatively uncommon in the area
Prior to modern flood control measures, the Colorado River provided a uniquely difficult habitat for fish, with heavy silt, frequent floods, and temperatures ranging from extreme heat in summer to sub-freezing in winter. As a result, only eight fish species are native to the Grand Canyon, six of which are found nowhere outside of the Colorado River.
1. What is the weather like in the Great Canyon?| A．It is pretty cool. | B．It is extremely hot. |
| C．It is unusually cold. | D．It changes from place to place. |
| A．It has a special geological phenomenon. |
| B．The temperature here is relatively stable. |
| C．It offers tough habitats for fish with extreme temperature. |
| D．There are eight fish species unique to the world. |
| A．Geography. | B．Life. | C．Stories. | D．Science. |
7 . The time for action is now, at least when it comes to climate change. If we don’t take measures that limit global warming, it may be impossible to stop its progress, according to a study published in 2018.
The study claims that in 2035, we will cross a point of no return — after which it will be extremely unlikely that we can stop Earth’s temperature from rising by 2 degrees Celsius (2℃) and kicking off dangerous global disasters.
The 2℃ mark is very important for Earth’s well-being. Once the planet warms an additional 2℃, scientists predict a range of disastrous effects, from widespread flooding in coastal areas to burning heat waves and extreme storms.
One important area that could slow the movement toward a point of no return in 2035 is the changing from fossil fuels (矿物燃料) to renewable energy sources. But even this will require significant progress. Scientists have figured that the share of renewables worldwide must grow by at least 2 percent each year in order to slow the process toward climate change. Two percent a year may not sound like much, but in the 20 years leading up to 2017, the percentage of energy from renewables grew by a poor total of 3.6 percent.
There is hope, though. If the use of renewable energy were to go beyond the scientists’ model, say by 5 percent per each year, the climate change deadline (最后期限) could move back by at least a decade, the researchers note. Also, developing technology to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere could help slow climate change. These gases change Earth’s atmosphere and allow it to capture more heat from the sun and cause temperatures to rise.
“We hope that ‘having a deadline’ may stimulate the sense of urgency to act for policy makers,” Henk Dijkstra, one of the study authors, said. “Very little time is left.”
1. What might happen once the Earth warms an additional 2℃?| A．The climate system will be rebuilt. |
| B．Global warming is uncontrollable. |
| C．Natural disasters become unavoidable. |
| D．Timely action will no longer be necessary. |
| A．The advances of scientific research. |
| B．The shift from fossil fuels to renewables. |
| C．The process of slowing down climate change. |
| D．The increase of public environmental awareness. |
| A．The limitation of scientists’ model. |
| B．Possible solutions to slowing climate change. |
| C．The value of the ‘point of no return’ concept. |
| D．Serious effects of greenhouse gases on Earth. |
| A．To stress the need of global cooperation. |
| B．To call on people to use renewable energy. |
| C．To urge policy makers to take immediate action. |
| D．To show their determination to stop global warming. |
8 . Horses have always held a special place in the hearts of many famous artists. Let’s explore some of the most well-known paintings of horses by famous artists.
Chinese Horse at Lascaux Cave
This Chinese Horse painting was first discovered in 1940 at the prehistoric cave art sites, Lascaux, in France. The painting earned its name for looking like the style of a Sung Chinese painting of a horse. Early artists created their own paintbrushes from animal skin and hair and also employed a spray (喷洒) painting technique using a hollow (空心的) reed to blow pigment through.
Whistlejacket
Whistlejacket depicts a life-sized racehorse against a plain background. One of the most unique features of this painting is that it does not situate the horse in any particular location. Rather, it focuses only on the details and character of the horse in question. In a way, Stubbs captures the spirit of the horse that suggests freedom of spirit, not tied to any background or environment, which makes this horse painting quite special for its time.
Horse Frightened by Lightning
In Horse Frightened by Lightning, a white horse is frightened by the lightning, standing on its hind legs in a storm. The daring color choices and detailed brushwork captures the reaction of the animal with care, showing panic and terror. The unpleasant weather is highlighted by the strong contrast created between the horse and the dark black and gray clouds that cover the entire sky. The symbolism found in most Romantic horse paintings includes themes of passion, power, nobility, and intense emotion.
1. What do we know about Chinese Horse?| A．It employed colors daringly. |
| B．It was painted on animal skins. |
| C．It was a Sung Chinese painting. |
| D．It used a spray painting approach. |
| A．Freedom of spirit. | B．Strong emotion. |
| C．Connection with animals. | D．Power of nature. |
| A．An art magazine article. | B．An art festival guide. |
| C．An art exhibition poster. | D．An art history lecture. |
9 . 
Every year, travelers head to South America to be amazed at the vast glaciers, huge open skies and high mountains. But at Omora Ethnobotanical Park on Tierra del Fuego, visitors are encouraged to think small.
Tierra del Fuego, a remote island at the tip of South America, might offer little in terms of animals and trees, but when it comes to bryophytes (苔藓植物), it is among the richest corners of the planet. In the area that covers less than 0.01% of the Earth’s land surface, more than 5% of the world’s bryophyte species is found.
On entering the park, you’re given a magnifying lens (放大镜). Guided by plant experts, you are invited to get down on your hands and knees to explore the little-known world of Tierra del Fuego’s “miniature forests” — the bryophytes that cover the rocks and trees. Focus is key: as you tiptoe through the park, it is easy to miss or even step on them.
I wondered how interesting mosses could be. But when I got up close, they started to come to life. Shapes and colours appeared that were not visible to the naked eye. One plant was bright yellow, while another was green with a bright red tip like a little hat.
One of the strangest plants is Old Man’s Beard, which looks like thin noodles and hangs off the trees in webs. According to my guide Lily Lewis, it plays an important role in the growth of the forest, capturing nutrients (营养) and salts blown in on the ocean wind.
Old Man’s Beard is extremely vulnerable to pollution, and has all but disappeared across much of the planet. But in Tierra del Fuego, where the air and rain are among the cleanest on the planet, it grows wildly.
“The hand lens is your entry point into the world of the miniature forests,” Lewis said. “Looking through a lens reminds you that there are other viewpoints from which we can see the world.”
1. Which title best describes Tierra del Fuego?| A．A wonderland for tiny plants. | B．A unique place for rare species. |
| C．A top destination for hiking lovers. | D．A remote land with different landscapes. |
| A．Curiosity and creativity. | B．Quickness and confidence. |
| C．Calmness and attentiveness. | D．Determination and courage. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Adaptable. | C．Beneficial. | D．Resistant. |
| A．Eco-tourism in Tierra del Fuego | B．An Encounter with Old Man’s Beard |
| C．A Tiny Forest on the Tip of the World | D．Start Your Journey of Discovery, Now! |
10 . While West Africa’s Benin approaches its rainy season, occasional showers and sticky hot weather have done little to lessen the enthusiasm of local villagers who gathered to watch the first Benin Village Super League. Soccer teams from two villages in Parakou, a central city in Benin, competed on a soccer field near the base of the Chinese support mission for cotton production in Benin, in Belle Cite Village.
For the past decade, the China-assisted cotton technology project has been active in Parakou, a major cotton-producing region in Benin. The long-term technical assistance has built strong relationships with villagers. When the project team learned that the former soccer field had been expropriated (征用), they decided to build a new one using agricultural machinery and recycled materials.
Last summer, videos of some soccer matches in Rongjiang county, Southwest China’s Guizhou province, went popular and attracted worldwide tourists. Inspired by this, the Village Super League in Parakou includes cultural performances during halftime, featuring Chinese martial arts and Beninese dance. “Locals love soccer and I wanted to bring this model here and set up a similar league,” said Shou Xiaoyong, head of the Chinese technical team.
Named the Friendship Football Field, the new facility was opened in March last year. It quickly became the preferred place for soccer among villagers in Belle Cite and nearby areas, hosting regular matches, especially during agricultural downtimes.
As the tournament progressed, its popularity rose. Villagers from surrounding areas traveled on motorcycles with their children to watch the matches. Yves Koba, the head of Belle Cite Village, praised the Village Super League for promoting (促进) communication and friendship among villages. “The league has made us more united. I hope it continues and that our villagers achieve even better results next year.”
1. What has caused excitement among the villagers in Parakou?| A．The first village league. | B．The China-assisted project. |
| C．The newly-built football field. | D．The start of the harvest season. |
| A．To attract worldwide tourists. | B．To provide a place for soccer lovers. |
| C．To inspire locals’ love for soccer. | D．To bring Chinese culture into focus. |
| A．How popular football is in Benin. |
| B．How the new football field was built. |
| C．What Benin Village Super League is like. |
| D．Why Chinese village league model was introduced. |
| A．It brings in huge money. | B．It promotes cross-cultural exchanges. |
| C．It forms a new tradition. | D．It strengthens friendship among villages. |
