1 . Why was school created?    1    Especially on test days, many students wonder exactly why they’re being subjected to such terrible and unusual punishment!

If you’re honest with yourself, though, you know what a great place school is.    2    . Sure, tests can be stressful, but think of how boring life would be if you didn’t get to learn new things and see other people so often!

Schools are not a new invention. You may have seen some old one-room schoolhouses that have been around for several hundred years or more.    3    .

In fact, education dates back to the very first humans ever to live on Earth. Why? To survive, every generation has found it necessary to pass on its knowledge, skills, values, and traditions to the next generation. How can they do this? Education! Each subsequent generation (后代) must be taught these things.

    4    They educated young people within the family unit. Over time, however, populations grew and societies formed.

Rather than every family being responsible for education, people soon found out that it would be easier and more efficient to have a small group of adults teach a larger group of children.    5    .

A．In this way, the idea of school was born.

B．The earliest schools, though, date back thousands of years.

C．At that time, schools focused on reading, writing, and maths.

D．Ancient schools weren’t like the schools we know today, though.

E．We’re sure that’s a question that every student asks from time to time.

F．The earliest human beings didn’t need schools to pass along information.

G．You have fun, learn all kinds of interesting things, and get to spend time with your friends.

2 . Nowadays, people are increasingly interacting with others in social media environments where algorithms control the flow of social information they see. People’s interactions with online algorithms may affect how they learn from others, with negative consequences including social misperceptions, conflict and the spread of misinformation.

On social media platforms, algorithms are mainly designed to amplify (放大) information that sustains engagement, meaning they keep people clicking on content and coming back to the platforms. There is evidence suggesting that a side effect of this design is that algorithms amplify information people are strongly biased (偏向的) to learn from. We call this information “PRIME”, for prestigious, in-group, moral and emotional information.

In our evolutionary past, biases to learn from PRIME information were very advantageous: Learning from prestigious individuals is efficient because these people are successful and their behavior can be copied. Paying attention to people who violate moral norms is important because punishing them helps the community maintain cooperation. But what happens when PRIME information becomes amplified by algorithms and some people exploit (利用) algorithm amplification to promote themselves? Prestige becomes a poor signal of success because people can fake prestige on social media. News become filled with negative and moral information so that there is conflict rather than cooperation.

The interaction of human psychology and algorithm amplification leads to disfunction because social learning supports cooperation and problem-solving, but social media algorithms are designed to increase engagement. We call it functional mismatch. One of the key outcomes of functional mismatch is that people start to form incorrect perceptions of their social world, which often occurs in the field of politics. Recent research suggests that when algorithms selectively amplify more extreme political views, people begin to think that their political in-group and out-group are more sharply divided than they really are. Such “false polarization” might be an important source of greater political conflict.

So what’s next? A key question is what can be done to make algorithms facilitate accurate human social learning rather than exploit social learning biases. Some research team is working on new algorithm designs that increase engagement while also punishing PRIME information. This may maintain user activity that social media platforms seek, but also make people’s social perceptions more accurate.

1. What are social media algorithms targeted at?

A．Improving social environment.	B．Generating PRIME information.
C．Avoiding side effects of social media.	D．Raising the media platform click rate.

2. Why does the author refer to “false polarization” in paragraph 4?

A．To make an assumption.	B．To illustrate a conclusion.
C．To explain a political issue.	D．To present an extreme case.

3. According to the author, algorithms will be improved so as to ________.

A．boost engagement and regulate amplification

B．strengthen social learning and delete biases

C．identify biases and punish PRIME information

D．monitor media platforms and guarantee users’ privacy

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．PRIME information meets with misperceptions

B．Algorithms control the flow of social information

C．Social media algorithms twist human social learning

D．Online algorithm designs face unexpected challenges

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Word came that the annual school sports meet would take place next Friday through Saturday. At the exciting news, the whole class burst into cheers. Without any hesitation, we set about making     1     (arrange) for the grand gala for us students.

With the sports meet approaching, we could hardly concentrate on our daily routine. Every day, we spent much of our spare time     2     (talk) about the weather for fear that the sports meet might be postponed again. Then finally came the big day, when the sports meet was held as     3     (schedule). The sports meet was pretty impressive. One of the highlights     4     (be) the parade before the start of the race. Students were marching past the podium with slogans high up in their hands, while spectators were screaming    5    (crazy). Shortly after the parade was over, the race started. Well known for running in junior high school, I     6     (recommend) to enter for the 3000-meter running race, representing my class.

Time was ticking away. Before I knew it, it was my turn to step onto the track. But all of     7    sudden, I felt a bit panicky. As I hadn’t received any training recently, I puffed and panted halfway. I was about     8     (quit) when my classmates cheered me on all the way. Anyway, I made it to the finishing line. Unable to earn a single point for my class, I was     9    low spirits. However, my friends came over and encouraged me to cheer up. It was their encouragement    10    helped heal the pain of failure.

Now two weeks have passed, but the memory still stay fresh in my mind. Disappointed as I am, I never regret taking part in the race. After all, being part of the sports meet is what I really care about.

4 . Environmental Books For Kids

City Green, by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan (1994)

It is a great book on how anyone can take action and make a difference. In it, Marcy, a young girl, wants to plant a garden in the vacant lot(空地) of her city block. The book describes every step of building a community garden for everyone to share. It comes with a handy guide on how you can start your own community garden!

Kate, Who Tamed the Wind, by Liz Garton Scanlon (2018)

This book is a wonderful story of problem-solving and perseverance (坚持不懈), as it tells the story of a young girl who decides to stop the wild wind from blowing by planting trees. It is a great read explaining the important role of trees in our lives and the planet as well as the importance of nature-based solutions.

We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom (2020)

If you want to learn more about native people and the importance of protecting water, this is the book for you. It is a story of a young girl who stands up for environmental justice (正义) and becomes an activist who fights to protect the world from pollution.

Pangolina, by Jane Goodall (2021)

A pangolin is to be unlawfully sold at the market. Luckily for her, a little girl, who knows that pangolins are friendly animals with feelings just like humans, asks her mother to buy Pangolina and set her free. If you love animals and you want to learn more about the problems of wildlife traffic as well as the importance of protecting endangered animals, this wonderful book is a good choice.

1. Which book would you recommend to someone interested in gardening?

A．City Green.	B．Pangolina.
C．We Are Water Protectors.	D．Kate, Who Tamed the Wind.

2. When was the book covering native people’s movement printed?

A．In 1994

B．In 2018.

C．In 2020.

D．In 2021.

3. Who wrote the book about saving animals?

A．DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan.	B．Liz Garton Scanlon.
C．Carole Lindstrom.	D．Jane Goodall.

5 . Advances in AI and machine learning have sparked interest from governments that would like to use these tools for patrolling (巡查) purposefully before hand to prevent crime. However, early efforts at crime prediction have been controversial, because they do not allow for systematic biases (偏见) in police enforcement and its complex relationship with crime and society.

University of Chicago (UC) data and social scientists have developed a new algorithm (算法) that forecasts crime by learning patterns in time and geographic locations from public data on violent and property crimes. It has demonstrated success at predicting future crimes one week in advance with approximately 90% accuracy.

The new tool was tested and validated using historical data from the City of Chicago around two broad categories of reported events: violent crimes and property crimes.

The new model isolates crime by looking at the time and spatial coordinates (坐标) of separate events and detecting patterns to predict future events. It divides the city into spatial sections roughly 1,000 feet across and predicts crime within these areas instead of relying on traditional neighborhood or political boundaries, which are also subject to bias. The model performed just as well with data from seven other US cities.

Ishanu Chattopadhyay, senior author of the study, is careful to note that the tool’s accuracy does not mean that it should be used to direct law enforcement, with police departments using it to flock to neighborhoods ahead of time to stop crime. Instead, it should be added to a toolbox of urban policies and policing strategies to address crime.

“We created a digital twin of urban environments. If you feed it data from what happened in the past, it will tell you what’s going to happen in future. It’s not magical; there are limitations, but we tested it and it works well,” Chattopadhyay said. “Now you can use this as a model tool to see what happens if crime goes up in one area, or there is increased enforcement in another area. If you apply all these different data, you can see how the system evolves in response.”

1. What information would data and social scientists in UC collect?

A．Periods of traffic jams.	B．Items of lost and found.
C．Thefts and robberies on the street.	D．Casualty (伤亡) in traffic accidents.

2. What does the underlined word “validated” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Confirmed.

B．Modified.

C．Classified.

D．Abandoned.

3. What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The advantages and disadvantages of this new tool.

B．The principles and good performances of this new tool.

C．Positive feedback from some other experts in this field.

D．The hard process of Chattopadhyay’s developing this tool.

4. What can we know from Chattopadhyay’s opinion on the tool’s use?

A．He does not think it’s accurate enough to put into use.

B．The limitations are to be removed for a better performance.

C．The police department can wholly rely on it to prevent criminals.

D．It can be of help when the authority make policies concerning crimes.

6 . It is quite true that nowadays more and more people have come to realize the importance of health. On the other hand, being healthier can be a huge challenge, especially if you don’t have the time or the energy.     1    That is because there are small changes you can make to your life where you can improve your health and still be lazy. Just start with eating well.

Eat your meals with your non-dominant hand.

Which is your non-dominant hand? For example, if you’re a right-hander, then your left hand is. Usually fork in your left hand, right? OK!     2     You’ll eat more slowly and probably consume less food.

Add in healthy food.

You can buy those Milano cookies, but also make an effort to buy frozen fruits for smoothies (奶昔) and snap pea crisps to snack on, too.     3    

Drink a glass of water before every meal.

Water will fill you up a little bit, so you won’t be hungry as a wolf at meal. Make it a habit to keep a water bottle nearby at all times, whether you’re in your house or on the go. That we should drink at least 8 cups of water every day makes sense.

Drink coffee.

Right!    4    More importantly, people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day are less likely to show early symptoms of heart disease. Don’t skip out of your morning cup of coffee or that afternoon pick-me-up.

    5    

People who eat on smaller plates end up eating less food. Buy a few inexpensive smaller plates and bowls if yours are large. You’ll think you’ve eaten more than you have.

Besides, just stretching your legs after meals every day will help a lot more.

A．Eat on smaller plates.

B．Never a coach potato!

C．A lucky dog you are now.

D．Caffeine truly refreshes you.

E．Stop eating when you feel full, never overeat.

F．Try using your right hand as your fork hand, rather than your left one.

G．Over time, fewer cookies and more healthy snacks you will have on hand.

7 . 假定你是李华，在抖音上碰巧刷到李女士发布海边民宿招租信息，刚好打算今年高考结束后和五位女伴前往体验生活一周。请写信向李女士咨询。
内容包括：
1. 告知行程时间安排；   2. 咨询房屋相关具体事项； 3. 赶海相关事宜等。
注意：
1. 词数80词左右；
2. 请在答题卡相应位置作答。
参考词汇：抖音Tik Tok 赶海 comb the beach   民宿 homestay
Dear Ms. Li,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How much does it cost a grown-up to visit the Sea Life Centre?

A．£2.

B．£4.

C．£10.

2. When do the hourly feeding times for the fish begin?

A．At 8:30 am.

B．At 9:30 am.

C．At 10:30 am.

3. What can children do in the Sea Life Theatre?

A．Perform in a play.

B．Talk with an actor.

C．Watch a short film.

4. What is the latest attraction at the Sea Life Theatre?

A．An open-air swimming pool.

B．An underwater glass passage.

C．An outside children’s play area.

9 . Self drive Ireland tours are ideal for people who enjoy the freedom to go at their own pace and make their own plans. Go Irish Tours specializes in short Ireland self drive tours ranging from 5 to 8 days long-perfect for a mid-year getaway or a romantic honeymoon.

Short Break Away (5 nights). It takes you from Dublin through Cork, Kerry and the Midlands, providing a perfect taste of Irish culture and history. Drive around Ireland in style, guiding yourself through sprawling cityscapes and rolling green hills alike. Just start with Phoenix Park.

Romantic Love Tour (6 nights). This idyllic driving tour is short but sweet, perfect for newlyweds with a passion for adventure. You’ll fall in love with Ireland over the course of six nights, cosying up in castles and driving through the most romantic scenery on Earth. This tour is the perfect way to treat yourselves after the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding.

Haunted Ireland Tour (7 nights). This ghosty self drive tour is bursting with Irish culture, mythology and legend. Explore haunted castles and twisted woods, learning of our fantastic folklore (民俗学) and its origins. This tour is a truly unique way to explore Ireland on your own. Leep Castle is one you can’t miss.

Southern Loop Tour (8 nights). This is a fantastic introductory trip to Éire. This week-long escape draws a ring from Dublin through the south half of the island and back again, stopping in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and the Midlands. Enjoy getting to grips with Ireland’s roads as you explore hills, valleys, mountains and villages behind the wheel of your personal rented car. This self-driving tour of Ireland will leave you dying to visit again!

1. What does Go Irish Tours possibly do?

A．A local expert travel agent.	B．A local government branch.
C．An international trade company.	D．A popular travel magazine.

2. Which tour is best suitable for you and your bride?

A．Short Break Away.	B．Romantic Love Tour.
C．Southern Loop Tour.	D．Haunted Ireland Tour.

3. Which probable event will you join in if you are on the Southern Loop Tour?

A．Go on a bike tour of the Phoenix Park.

B．Buy your bride one classic ladies gold ring.

C．Brave enough to visit the notorious Leep Castle alone.

D．Experience different road conditions when driving around.

10 . Solar power is one of the fastest growing sources of renewable power globally these years. Solar photothermal (光热) and solar photovoltaic (PV光伏)are both technical forms.

The thermal power station adopts the generation mode of “light--heat--electricity”. Thousands of heliostats (定日镜) reflect the sunlight to the surface of the heat absorber on the top of the solar tower. The concentrated sunlight is then used either directly as a source of heat, as in solar water heating, or to drive a heat cycle such as a Sterling Engine. PVs use semi-conductor technology to directly convert sunlight into electricity. The PV line is connected to the direct current (DC) distribution cabinet in parallel through the DC combiner box. After confluence (汇合), it is connected to the DC input end of the inverter to convert DC into alternating current (AC). The AC output end of the inverter is connected to the AC distribution cabinet and directly connected to the user side through the AC distribution cabinet.

Additionally, since solar thermal directly produces heat, it can store thermal energy into various media. Therefore, solar thermal can potentially generate power 24 hours a day. On the other hand, PVs only operate when the sun is shining, and must be coupled either with other power generation mechanisms to ensure a constant supply of electricity.

The scale of PV power generation can be large or small, ranging from thousands of watts to hundreds of megawatts, but photothermal power generation is typical economies of scale. With the increase of scale, the lower the power generation cost.

PV power generation is less limited by region, for the sun shines on the earth. Compared with other sources of renewable power, the PV system is safe and reliable as well as eco-friendly. Since it can be convenient for local power generation and power supply, you do not worry about consuming fuel or erecting transmission lines. A small PV power can be constructed in a short period with no noise or low pollution.

1. How does the author develop the text?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By giving examples.
C．By making assumptions.	D．By analyzing statistics.

2. What’s the last stop before the PV line is connected to the user side?

A．The DC distribution cabinet.	B．The DC input end of the inverter.
C．The AC distribution cabinet.	D．The AC output end of the inverter.

3. What aspect does the last paragraph focus on PV power generation?

A．Its popularity.

B．Its efficiency.

C．Its cost.

D．Its advantages.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Solar Thermal vs. Solar Photovoltaic

B．Some facts about Solar Photovoltaic

C．The development of solar power generation

D．The wide use and promising future of solar power