Jenny was the only child in her family. She had a quarrel (吵架) with her mother that afternoon and she ran out of the house angrily. She couldn’t help weeping sorrowfully when she thought of the scolding from her mother. Having wandered aimlessly in the street for hours, she felt a little hungry and wished for something to eat. She stood beside a stand (货摊) for a while, watching the middle-aged seller busy doing his business. However, with no money in hand, she gave a sigh and had to leave.
The seller behind the stand noticed the young girl and asked, “Hey, girl, you want to have the noodles?”
“Oh, yes, but I don’t have money on me.” she replied.
“That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man, “Come in.”
The seller brought her a bowl of noodles, whose smell was so attractive. As she was eating, Jenny cried silently.
“What is it?” asked the man kindly.
“Nothing. Actually, I was just touched by your kindness!” said Jenny as she wiped her tears. “Even a stranger on the street will give me a bowl of noodles, while my mother drove me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so merciless compared to a stranger!”
Hearing the words, the seller smiled, “Girl, do you really think so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. Can you remember the times she cooked for you? Have you expressed your gratitude to her?”
Jenny sat there, speechless and numb with shock: she remembered her mother’s familiar face and weathered hands. “Why didn’t I think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful. Why haven’t I thanked my mum for what she has done for me?”
On the way home. Jenny made up her mind to make an apology to her mother for her rudeness as soon as she arrived home.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Nearing the doorway, Jenny took a deep breath.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________At that time, her mother came back and touched her hair gently, which called her mind back.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . With almost all big employers in the United States now using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their hiring processes, the public is considering some urgent questions: How can you prevent discrimination in hiring when a machine is keeping the discrimination? What kind of methods might help?
Some 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, now use some form of automated tools as part of their hiring process, said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s ( EEOC) chair Charlotte Burrows, at a hearing on Tuesday. She said everyone needs to speak up on the debate over these technologies. “The risks are simply too high to leave this topic just to the experts.”
Last year, the EEOC issued some guidance around the use of cutting-edge hiring tools, noting many of their shortcomings. The agency found that resume( 简历) scanners which prioritize keywords and programs which evaluate a candidate’s facial expressions and speech patterns in video interviews can create discrimination. Take, for example, a video interview that analyses an applicant’s speech patterns to determine their ability to solve problems. A person with a speech problem might score low and automatically be screened out. The problem will be for the EEOC to root out discrimination or stop it from taking place.
The EEOC is considering the most appropriate ways to handle the problem. It’s agreed that inspections are necessary to ensure that the software used by companies avoids intentional or unintentional discrimination. But who would conduct those inspections is a more challenging question. Each option presents risks, Burrows pointed out. A third party may turn a blind eye to its clients, while a government-led inspection could potentially stop innovation.
In previous remarks, Burrows has noted the great potential that AI decision making tools have to improve the lives of Americans, but only when used properly. “We must work to ensure that these new technologies do not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination,” she said.
1. What does Burrows suggest people do?| A．Make their own voice heard. | B．Follow the experts’ suggestions. |
| C．Stop using AI in hiring processes. | D．Watch debates about technologies. |
| A．By scanning keywords. | B．By evaluating resumes. |
| C．By analyzing personalities. | D．By assessing speech patterns. |
| A．High expense. | B．Unfair results. |
| C．Age discrimination. | D．Innovation interruption. |
| A．Favourable. | B．Disapproving. | C．Cautious. | D．Doubtful. |
8 . As much as I love the rides in theme parks, my favorite part of the experience is the live entertainment. Whether it’s a parade, stage show, “streetmosphere”, or even an impressive nighttime show, I just love the energy that a live performance can bring to a space. It is not uncommon for me to visit a theme park and go on one ride and spend the rest of the time just enjoying the atmosphere.
No matter how many times I ride an attraction, I’m having the same experience. But with live entertainment, it constantly changes. Different performers bring their own touch to the show. Even when things go wrong in a live situation, I find it fascinating to see how it is covered. There is an impressive art to fixing an error, or sometimes even making it a comedic moment.
But because these live performances aren’t bolted (固定) to the ground and are easily influenced, they are often the first thing to get removed from the parks when there is a shortage of money. As much as I understand this business decision, it feels shortsighted. The parks simply don’t feel alive when live entertainment is missing. Without it, a theme park is just a group of people walking quickly from one ride to the next.
We are certainly living in an unprecedented time, but I’m happy to see that theme parks have found creative ways to make sure there is some sort of live entertainment put on safe. Most parks are having their characters and performances visible from a distance.
One of my favorite examples of this was shared by @Attractions on Twitter, where Winnie the Pooh was frolicking around Epcot and trying to catch a butterfly. This is such a great example of what can be done with characters and live entertainers in a time when the “norm” isn’t possible, I honestly hope that these special moments remain once it’s safe for the meet-and-greets and close-up interactions to return.
1. What does the author like best in a theme park?| A．Joining its parades. | B．Observing its visitors. |
| C．Trying its various rides. | D．Enjoying its live shows. |
| A．The error. | B．The show. | C．The reason. | D．The attention. |
| A．It will bring theme parks more business. |
| B．It will make theme parks easily influenced |
| C．It will make theme park rides more popular. |
| D．It will take away the liveliness of theme parks. |
| A．To explain what theme parks can do to stay |
| B．To show its popularity among theme park visitors. |
| C．To explain what characters can do to get closer to visitors. |
| D．To show the influence special times can have on theme park. |
9 . Get your boots muddy with our Ranger Team!
Muddy Boots volunteer activities
Do you live nature and want to help us? Looking for an opportunity to get outdoors again and get your boots muddy?
Our Muddy Boots volunteer activities will start again in June 2022, and we are creating more opportunities for you to join in at our three green flag sites. We welcome all ages. Become a Muddy Boots volunteer and meet new people. Muddy Boots events are free. Don’t forget your boots!
Each site will host a regular Muddy Boots Volunteer Group to support the rangers (护林员) with their practical management and conservation work. On top of this we are also looking for volunteers to help with projects, litter picking, events, site monitoring and more.
We would love to hear from anybody interested in helping us to look after these very important local woodlands, ensuring that they are safe & welcoming for both the public who visit them and the wildlife who call them home.
Holt Country Park
Every Wednesday 10 am-12 pm
Starting June 15th
Pretty Corner Woods
Every other Thursday 10 am-12 pm
Starting June 16th
Sadlers Wood
Last Tuesday of Month, 10 am-12 pm
Starting June 28th
To register your interest, or to find our more information please email us on countryside@north-norfolk.gov.uk.
1. What can we learn about the volunteer activities?| A．They will be done on three sites. |
| B．They provide boots for volunteers. |
| C．They are specially intended for teenagers. |
| D．They will be held in June for the first time. |
| A．Put our wildfires. |
| B．Finish projects on their own. |
| C．Keep an eye on local woodlands. |
| D．Organize visitors picking up litter. |
| A．On June 15th | B．On June 23rd | C．On June 28th | D．On June 30th |
