1 . In looking through your social media, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed pictures accompanied by texts. The pictures are likely made possible by a text-to-image program called DALL-E. For example, Twitter user posted a tweet with the text, “To be or not to be, rabbi holding avocado, marble sculpture.” Then a matching picture appears below.
The AI models come from Google’s Imagen software as well as OpenAI. a start-up backed by Microsoft. On its website, OpenAI calls DALL-E “a new Al system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.” But most of what’s happening in this area is coming from a relatively small group of people sharing their pictures. That’s because Google and OpenAI have not made the technology broadly available to the public.
The text-to-picture services identify the most important parts of a user’s text and then guess the best way to picture those terms. There’s generally a text box, a button to start the generation process and an area below to display images. To indicate the source. Google and OpenAI add watermarks in the bottom right comer of images from DALL-E and Imagen.
Engineers trained the models on various collections of words and pictures from the web. OpenAI recognizes the potential for harm that could come from a model. To avoid the risk, employees removed violent content from training data, and there are filters（筛选）stopping DALL-E from producing images if users submit（提交）violent or illegal content.
Boris Dayma, a developer from Texas spelled out the problems in an explanation of their software. Despite the risks, Dhariwal, a research scientist at OpenAI, said it could open up creative opportunities for individuals and could help with commercial applications for dressing up websites. Results should continue to improve over time.
| A．Beautifying pictures at users’ request. |
| B．Producing pictures from human words. |
| C．Changing pictures into vivid descriptions. |
| D．Providing pictures for users to choose from. |
| A．Its users’ rights. | B．Its operating conditions |
| C．Its working process. | D．Its company’s prospect. |
| A．All images come from a unified model. |
| B．The training data is selected beforehand. |
| C．Improper requests can’t be submitted. |
| D．Filters remove the unhealthy description. |
| A．Positive. | B．Objective. | C．Uncertain. | D．Worried. |
2 . Picture the scene: you’ve spent years working towards a very specific goal. You’ve put in countless hours of work and made many efforts along the way, but now that you’ve got there it doesn’t feel quite like you imagined. Instead of celebration, you feel emptiness, confusion and doubt.
Welcome to the anti-climax. The often-experienced but seldom-discussed downside of achieving life’s biggest milestones. Many of us work tirelessly towards our goals. We may spend our lives dreaming of the day we get married, publish our first hook or buy our first home. However, oftentimes, when we achieve these things it doesn’t feel quite as expected. In fact, the achievement of these goals feels a bit of a letdown.
So why do we often experience an anti-climax with big goals, even though we’re happy to achieve them? “An anti-climax can be an unexpected by-product of a milestone achievement. Usually, the more significant the milestone, the greater the anti-climax may be. The intensity（强度）of an anti-climax often relies on what we expect of this achievement.” says Rachel Vora. a psychotherapist（心理治疗师）.“The journey to achieving a milestone can he exciting and tiring in addition to giving us a sense of purpose and focus. Therefore, when this disappears overnight. we can often feel lost and confused, in spite of feeling proud of our achievement.
When this happens it can contribute to a mixture of emotions. We often falsely believe that we’ll feel completely different afterwards or that our feelings of low self-worth will disappear, but this is rarely the case. “Clients（客户）often present to me with an extremely great sense of ‘is this it?’ and ‘what now?’.” says Vora. “These feelings of confusion and disappointment, if let ignored, have the potential to cause clients to be in low spirits, or even worse.”
1. Why does the author mention the examples in paragraph 2?| A．To present a fact. | B．To prove a rule. |
| C．To explain a term. | D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Low self-worth. | B．High expectations. |
| C．Sense of purpose. | D．Unexpected achievements. |
| A．Amy felt empty before giving a speech. |
| B．Jack felt lost after his first novel came out. |
| C．Mary felt proud when she joined a ballet club. |
| D．Tom felt doubtful about taking further education. |
| A．How to hold back feelings. |
| B．How to improve self-worth. |
| C．Hon to identify the anti-climax. |
| D．How to deal with the anti-climax. |
3 . Scientists have discovered how plants manage to live alongside each other in places that are dark and shady. Plants in the deep darkness of a thick forest, where natural supplies are not very great in amount, won’t attempt to top their neighbors in growth as those in moderate (中度的) shade do. In deep shade conditions, it would be a waste of energy and harmful to survival because green shoots would never be able to top their larger neighbors in growth.
So how do plants prevent such growth in deep shade conditions? The secret lies in the clocks insides them, say scientists from the John Ines Centre and the University of Bristol.
They have discovered that when plants notice deep shade, this changes the expression of genes parts of the circadian clock (昼夜节律时钟) — the inner daily timer found in plants and other things. These clock parts perform an additional role in preventing plants from lengthening and overtopping neighbors.
The work identifies a previously unknown role of the circadian clock in controlling plant development and the findings may have possible effects on both natural plant populations and crops. Professor Antony Dodd of the John Innes Centre said, “The biological clock of plants plays a big part in their development and fitness. This work casts new light on a new role of the circadian clock in adapting plants to competition with other plants in their environments.” “It also gives us new insights into how plants adapt to very deep shade, where resources are very limited,” said Professor Kerry Franklin at the University of Bristol.
This work provides evidence for the firmness of the circadian clock in stressful environments, and information that may be useful in developing new generations of crops in a challenging climate.
1. What do plants normally do in moderate shade?| A．Struggle to preserve energy. | B．Compete for limited resources. |
| C．Try to outgrow their neighbors. | D．Depend on each other to survive. |
| A．By changing their gene expression. | B．By making them realize light change. |
| C．By helping them adapt to the darkness. | D．By controlling their growth in deep shade. |
| A．To share a new discovery about plants. | B．To introduce the role of the circadian clock. |
| C．To explain plants secret of living in forests. | D．To compare plants living in certain condition. |
| A．How plants face a challenging climate |
| B．Why plants respond to different shade levels |
| C．Why the circadian clock is vital to plants' growth |
| D．How plants become good neighbors in times of stress |
4 . It is not always easy to keep a conversation going in English. You might not be sure about what to say. Or maybe you are afraid that your pronunciation is not good. So how can we continue a conversation in English?
Listen and follow up
First, remember the importance of listening. Listen to the other person attentively, so that you can ask a follow-up question. For example, let’s say the other person tells you, “I just got back from a trip to Canada.”
How was the food there?
Avold simple “yes” or “no” questions
If you want to keep a conversation going, it’s a good idea to ask questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. If the other person asks you a “yes” or “no” question, try to give a longer answer to help keep the conversation going.
For example, a friend might ask, “Hey, have you seen the new Star Wars movie?” You could just answer, “No, I haven’t.”
Do not worry about your pronunciation. If your pronunciation is a little different, the other person will still understand your message if you try speaking slowly and clearly. When you are traveling in an English-speaking country and have some free time, be brave and speak in English with someone who does not look too busy.
| A．Or, you could say more. |
| B．Be brave and practice often. |
| C．You can try the following ways. |
| D．Why did you choose the destination? |
| E．Then you may make a new friend. |
| F．Correct your pronunciation if possible. |
| G．You can continue with a question using where, what, why, or how. |
5 . A psychologist at Stanford once did an experiment. He assigned preschool children to three groups. The first group watched adults play rudely with an inflatable clown (充气小丑) called Bobo; another watched adults play quietly with a different toy while ignoring Bobo; and the third had no exposure to these adult role models. Next, each of the children was left alone with Bobo.
The results of the study were striking. Only the children in the first group later kicked Bobo, hit it with a stick, and sat on it just as they watched the adults do.
The above study indicates kids may follow suit if they see what others do. That’s why role models matter. When kids are exposed to role models they can relate to, it helps them set ambitious goals. Don’t assume kids know they can be anything they want when they grow up.
Take myself for example. “Angela, do you think the US will elect a female president in your lifetime?” Years ago, this was the last question of the last interview for a scholarship I didn’t win. Without hesitation I shook my head saying “no”. As the interview ended, I sensed I’d given an answer the committee found disappointing. “Of course there will be a female president,” they wanted me to say with a confident smile. “And I hope I have your vote.”
Like most children, my first role models were in my family. My dad had a PhD in chemistry. My uncles and countless cousins were mostly doctors or scientists. So, if you’d asked me in, say, third grade, “Angela, could you become a college professor someday if you tried?” Without a bit of evidence that I’d be any good at such a career, I’d have nodded my head.
So it’s quite necessary that we should go out of our way to expose kids to role models, whether it’s an Olympic athlete or a CEO. Now that we have our first female vice-president, can the first female president be far behind?
1. Why did the children in the first group treated Bobo rudely?| A．They regarded it as a mere toy. |
| B．They meant to make fun of Bobo. |
| C．They were raised to behave badly. |
| D．They were set a negative example. |
| A．To raise her doubt. |
| B．To respond positively. |
| C．To interpret its meaning. |
| D．To change her reply quickly. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Doubtful. | C．Curious. | D．Hesitant. |
| A．My Role Models |
| B．Aim High and Act Early |
| C．How to Become American President |
| D．Role Models Help Shape Kids’ Future |
6 . A new technology project in southern Greece is helping visitors experience the ancient birthplace of the Olympic Games.
The project used Augmented Reality (AR) to recreate temples and competition areas in the ancient city of Olympia. It was recently launched in the city, one of the world’s major archaeological sites. Augmented Reality is a technology that can project computer-created imagery onto special eyeglasses. Through the eyeglasses, the images appear along with other physical objects in the environment.
The project is a partnership between American software maker Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport. The ministry helped Microsoft map and build virtual representations of Olympia. The city was used for nearly a thousand years to host the games in ancient Greece that served as the model for the modern Olympics. The experience provides users the chance to virtually walk through the ruins of Olympia. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, people can also use Microsoft’s AR headsets for a similar experience.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined a group of schoolchildren who were using the app for the first time. “I’m absolutely thrilled that we’re able to present to the world a completely new cultural experience utilizing technology to recreate the ancient world of Olympia, ” Mitsotakis told the media.
Students from a local middle school looked at statues and structures that were brought to life on their phones. One of the children, Panagiotis Christopoulos, called the project “impressive”. “I think it can help with teaching in schools, ” the student said. They were able to virtually visit inside and outside settings to explore where ancient Olympians had competed in different sports.
The project began 18 months ago with a series of imaging flights to help map areas across Olympia. Microsoft is to build several data centers in and near Athens as part of a $ 1 billion investment agreement with the Greek government.
1. What can users do with the eyeglasses?| A．Move physical objects. |
| B．Take photos of the ruins of Olympia. |
| C．Take part in the virtual Olympic Games. |
| D．Be on a virtual visit to the ruins of Olympia. |
| A．Using. | B．Determining. |
| C．Replacing | D．Recycling |
| A．Develop advanced operating systems. |
| B．Help the Greek government plan the city. |
| C．Make an agreement with other companies. |
| D．Spend lots of money establishing data centers. |
| A．Greece Will Open a New Olympic Museum |
| B．Digital Project Brings Olympics Birthplace to Life |
| C．The AR Glasses Helps You See More about the World |
| D．The Olympic Museum in Athens Will Create a Virtual Map |
7 . Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde’s latest project, GROW, involved installing (安装) thousands of blue, red and purple LED lights in a 2-hectare field of leek (韭菜) for both artistic and practical purposes. People driving by the town of Lelystad, in central Netherlands, at night, this time of year are treated to a fantastic sight—a 20,000 square meters field of leek glowing blue, red and purple. Thought up by Studio Roosegaarde, the unique artistic installation is designed both as an honor to Dutch farmers and as an inspiration for them to experiment with artificial light in outdoor farming. Daan Roosegaarde also wants GROW to send a hopeful light to people in these trying times, giving new meaning to the word “agriculture” as a living cultural artwork.
Nighttime ultraviolet (紫外线的) light has been used in glasshouse agriculture for a while now, especially in places where direct sunlight is scarce, but its use in outdoor fanning has so far been very limited. Ultraviolet light is known to help plants grow better, but Studio Roosegaarde is also testing a theory according to which certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light could reduce the need for pesticides by up to 50%.
“So we started to scan the plants with these wavelengths of light and then suddenly it started to dance, the light,” Daan Roosegaarde said. “You had these huge fields of fireflies, as if they were, and we were testing it and the magic started kicking in, so I think that’s when the worlds of science, art and design meet and enhance each other.” Solar-powered LEDs give ultraviolet light onto the leek plants, thus adding the effect of natural sunlight after sunset, and creating a wonderful sight at the same time.
GROW is currently only visible near Lelystad, but Roosegaarde plans to take the visually-impressive installation on the road to over 40 countries. Each country will have its own local or national crop and its own unique light recipe. Over the years, Studio Roosegaarde has created a number of fascinating installations, like the glow-in-the-dark bicycle path powered directly by the sun.
1. What does GROW probably refer to?| A．A project creating artworks. | B．A project installing LED lights. |
| C．A project producing pesticides. | D．A project building glasshouses. |
| A．Sufficient. | B．Enough. |
| C．Steady. | D．Lacking. |
| A．What artistic effects were caused by the project |
| B．Why the project GROW was conducted. |
| C．How Roosegaarde’s design idea came up. |
| D．How Roosegaarde’s theory was tested. |
| A．It is promising. | B．It is pressing. |
| C．It is challenging. | D．It is demanding. |
8 . I have met many people, but I will always remember my teacher, Mrs. Lawrence.
I will remember Mrs. Lawrence for her good character. She is always nice and helpful to the students. She will take every chance to praise the students that are not so good in class. I wish I could have the same great character as her.
I will always remember the great moments when we are together. Once I stayed in her room for several days and it was really enjoyable. I love to listen to all the stories and things about her.
I also like her creativity(创造力). We don’t like boring books, music, pictures, students and so on. She teaches us about these boring things in ways that we like. I also enjoy the way she asks us to be quiet while she is talking at the front of the classroom. She will give us a lovely little flower when we do something well. The student that has got the most flowers at the end of the month will receive gifts like pies, drinks and chips.
I will never forget Mrs. Lawrence. She has taught me to always be a person of good character, even if I'm angry. She has taught me just to have fun and not to worry. She has also taught me to be creative and enjoy what I do. That is why I will remember Mrs. Lawrence forever.
1. Mrs. Lawrence is considered to be creative because she ______.| A．buys students food every month | B．loves the students that are not good |
| C．teaches students in interesting ways | D．doesn’t teach boring things to students |
| A．She lives with Mrs. Lawrence now. |
| B．She likes creative people of good character. |
| C．She gets the most flowers in her class. |
| D．She wants to be a teacher like Mrs. Lawrence. |
| A．great moments with Mrs. Lawrence |
| B．interesting stories about Mrs. Lawrence |
| C．friendship between Mrs. Lawrence and her students |
| D．the reason why the author will always remember Mrs. Lawrence |
9 . I confess I hesitated when the editor in chief of The New York Times Magazine told me in late 20l4 that I would be editing a new front-of-book column called Letter of Recommendation, about stuff people really like. The column was the brainchild of our staff writer, Sam Anderson, he explained. Sam figured that there was no shortage of places to find out what writers hate but few spaces for writers to talk about what they love.We would push against this trend, 900 words a week,40-something times per year.
The reason for my hesitation was a simple, unfortunate fact about writing. Writing about things you hate is easy: not just fun, but generative. The criticism tends to entertain, even if you disagree, but the ode doesn't. The writerly tone is well-suited to our age, but it's hard not to see it as a collective defense mechanism as if revealing your true feelings exposes your unmentionable secrets to the public. Obsessions, meanwhile, are inseparable from our peculiarities as people we come to love things for often weird reasons. When the column really works, it's as revealing about the author as it is its subject. One writer, a man in his late 30s, for example, recommended Pedialyte, which he drinks to balance the effects of both drinking and exercise, and to cheat his way back to youth.
I probably see somewhere between three and five Letter of Recommendation pitches a day. It's a great spot for trying out new writers in the magazine, so I try my best to keep up with all the email, but I often fail.（I feel genuinely terrible about this every day of my life.）Determining which to assign involves seeing how it meets the various criteria（评判标准）we've settled on over the years.We don't like the column to be timely---everything else in the world is timely. But on the other hand, we need to put a headline on the thing that people might reasonably recognize, stop and read about. There should be a personal angle to the recommendation, but also some universally recommendable aspect. But then again, it shouldn't be too recommendable: this isn't a column for life-hacks.The recommendation itself should be attractively unexpected "sideways", as editors are perhaps too fond of saying, but really, it's just an excuse to cut brilliant writers loose to amuse or inspire us.
1. Sam Anderson proposed a column Letter of Recommendation because he found ________ .| A．the fashion trend was not easy to push against |
| B．there was a shortage of good quality columns |
| C．writers could hardly find a place to share their likes |
| D．his brainchild could sometimes increase readership |
| A．compliment | B．recommendation | C．hesitation | D．determination |
| A．To give an example of the writerly tone. |
| B．To highlight the way that the column selects writers. |
| C．To show how a collective defense mechanism works. |
| D．To illustrate how writers reveal themselves in the column. |
| A．the recommended items are quite familiar to readers |
| B．the recommended items should follow the latest trend |
| C．readers can learn about life skills from the recommendations |
| D．readers will find the recommendations beyond their expectation |
Still Alice In this film, we can catch a glimpse of a family’s relationships, fears, concerns and struggles. Alice, the film’s main character, copes bravely with Alzheimer’s disease: she’s the perfect example of an iron-willed woman. Julianne Moore’s amazing performance adds extra charm to this character. Not surprisingly, Julianne Moore won the 2015 Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. |
Coco Before Chanel The movie is about a strong woman who was not afraid to defy(挑战)society and its conservative and old-fashioned morals. Some say it’s a dull and monotonous(老套的)movie, but it would be more accurate to say that it’s simply an unhurried one — a technique that makes it all the more fascinating. Audrey Tautou is graceful in the role of Chanel. |
Mona Lisa Smile This movie teaches you about dignity, courage and persistence, and the central theme is learning to have a mind of your own. Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the famous all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to confront the outdated morals of society, Katherine inspires her traditional students including Betty and Joan to challenge the lives they are expected to lead. |
Elizabeth This is a wonderful film about Elizabeth I, who was faced with the difficult task of becoming a wise and strong monarch(君主). Cate Blanchett is amazing in the role of the queen—majestic, powerful, and strong-willed—who opens a “golden age” in the history of England. Suspense, passion, betrayal, adventure—all these things are combined in this thrilling and epic movie with perfect scenes, gorgeous costumes and shocking performances by the actors. |
| A．They’re strong-willed and brave. |
| B．They’re great professional women. |
| C．They suffer from serious illnesses. |
| D．They are always challenging traditional virtues. |
| A．is mainly set in Wellesley College |
| B．is especially popular with traditional students |
| C．is a film whose theme is learning to think independently |
| D．is a dull but unhurried movie |
| A．Julianne Moore | B．Audrey Tautou |
| C．Julia Roberts | D．Cate Blanchett |
