1 . Virtual reality is quickly becoming the new technological frontier. Tech companies everywhere seem to be racing to get their foot in the VR door. However, virtual reality has a set of challenges and hurdles that it must overcome in order to work well. It should be noted that VR is heavily dependent on being very fast, very accurate and very good-looking. If it isn’t, the viewer will feel motion sick or disconnected from the world that VR is trying to create.
Now that we can actually build VR headsets that begin to meet these requirements, we are seeing a rising interest in VR. As it rises, so does the interest in creating new media to be experienced in using virtual reality. Journalism is a medium built on relevance. Journalists should always be finding new ways to tell stories and deliver content. It is a goldmine for storytelling. What better ways to tell a story to someone than to put them right in the center of it?
Virtual reality is a powerful tool for journalists. The consumer isn’t just reading or watching something play out; they’re experiencing it. The immersive nature of VR allows for people to connect with the subject matter on a much deeper level than just reading about it. The experience is emotional, speaking more to our instinct than our intellect. The possibilities for storytelling here are legion, and any storyteller wanting to do something more interesting than their peers should surely be considering the sheer power of VR.
The question of virtual reality, though, is not how powerful it is. That is immediately apparent. The question of VR is one of viability and availability. Telling stories must be easy to do, and access to those stories must be readily available. This is the biggest challenge that VR faces. If the tools to tell a story with VR aren’t easy to pick up and learn, VR will fail. If VR technology isn’t both top-of-the-line and affordable, VR will fail.
Accessibility was one concern for Thomas Hallaq, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, who said that current VR technology, is pretty exclusive right now. Despite that, he said he doesn’t think the exclusivity of this technology will be a problem in the long run.
“I think it’s very promising,” Hallaq said. “We’re seeing more technology become accessible, and more people having access to that technology. Just look at smartphones.” Like radio, TV and the Internet before it, virtual reality will change the way we tell stories.
1. Why is VR considered a powerful tool for journalism?A.Because it is an exclusively new tool. |
B.Because it is very powerful and popular. |
C.Because people can experience the story in person. |
D.Because it is very fast, accurate and good-looking. |
A.How powerful and interesting it can be. |
B.Whether people will have easy access to it. |
C.Whether qualified VR headsets can be built. |
D.What new ways people will find to deliver content. |
A.Optimistic. | B.Neutral. | C.Pessimistic. | D.Concerned. |
A.The Wide Popularity of Virtual Reality |
B.The Future Development of Virtual Reality |
C.Challenges and Hurdles of Virtual Reality |
D.Virtual Reality is the Future of Storytelling |
2 . Moving around Bogota can be a bit of a Jekyll-or-Hyde experience. On the one hand, the city is infamous (声名狼藉的)for having the world’s worst traffic. Yet, on the other, its cycling infrastructure is considered a good model of sustainable urban mobility, according to the Copenhagenize Index, which ranks bike-friendly cities. The Colombian capital generated a now-international movement in the 1970s called Ciclovia, which sees 1.5 million people cycle across 128km of car-free streets each Sunday morning.
So, when the pandemic reached its shores in mid-March, Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez, an avid cyclist herself, introduced one of the world’s first plans to encourage bike travel, using traffic cones to create 76 km of temporary lanes.
“Everyone started using a bicycle, and they already knew how to get around on one because we have this bike culture thanks to the Ciclovia,” says Carlos Pardo, a local cycling advocate and senior advisor at the New Urban Mobility Alliance. Pardo got involved at the beginning of the pandemic by partnering with a local bikeshare company to provide 400 free e-bikes to health workers. Now, he’s busy persuading the public that the government’s new bike lanes should become permanent fixture (固定设施).
“Some drivers say, ‘you took away our lane’, but we’re saying, we took one car lane and made a two-lane bidirectional bike lane,” he explains. “So, you’re duplicating the effectiveness of the space, and moving more people per hour, per direction.”
Biking has enjoyed a renaissance (复兴) around the world as urban citizens avoid public transport for the relative safety of a two-wheeled commute. Now, many advocates like Pardo are working with local governments in the hope of turning these pandemic-response measures into lasting changes—ones that are more plausible now than ever after lockdowns provided an unprecedented (空前的)opportunities to fast-track infrastructure trials. The results of these urban planning experiments could not only radically shape the way we commute across global cities, but also make them more adaptable to future shocks.
1. What can best illustrate the underlined sentence?A.Much knowledge that is of help in learning about a new place. |
B.A mixed feeling that is too confusing to express themselves. |
C.An understanding that everything has both advantages and disadvantages. |
D.An idea that human beings are born somewhere between good and evil. |
A.The outbreak of the pandemic in mid-March. |
B.The worldwide bike culture dating back to the 1970s. |
C.The government’s support for the temporary bike lanes. |
D.The local bike company’s contribution to health workers. |
A.The increasing number of cyclists. | B.Duplicated effectiveness of road use. |
C.A well-rounded city expansion plan. | D.The growth of car ownership. |
A.Urban life. | B.Politics. | C.Sports | D.Advice column. |
3 . Addiction and recovery are the two sides of the same coin. In many cases, addiction starts off at a relatively low level — misuse.
One of the most dramatic recovery pathways available to substance users is called “cold turkey” (突然戒毒方法).
Nearly all forms of addiction have a negative impact on the loved ones of addicted people.
A.Addiction is not a single state of being. |
B.If left unchecked, it may then progress to abuse. |
C.What recovery pathways are there for behavioural issues? |
D.There are many others they might try if they do not succeed the first time. |
E.This will take a lifelong commitment, but the results often speak for themselves. |
F.This means that they completely stop their usage and avoid such behaviour in the future. |
G.Supporting someone who is overcoming an addiction often requires a long-term commitment. |
4 . The needs of plus size consumers have long been the elephant in the room of the fashion industry until body positivity and fat acceptance movements promoted the slogan (口号) that large-bodied people are not those who are left behind. This size-inclusive (尺码包容) trend has become so popular that it is influencing mainstream culture. As a result, fashion brands have finally decided to extend their size ranges. In 2022, the plus-size market grew twice as fast as the standard size market in both North America and the UK.
Yet, many consumers say fashion brands broadening their ranges are not truly inclusive. “Inclusive sizing means that all bodies are included in fashion, not just the ones who fit in standard sizes,” says Marie Southard Ospina, a UK-based journalist who covers body-image issues. “However, what many designers do right now is pick a number that they think is big enough to include plus sizes and stop. This is even more disrespectful.”
Researchers also criticize that some brands are just taking advantage of the trend. “Brands that used to promote so-called perfect bodies in their advertisements are now trying to get in on the trend by adding a few sizes. It doesn’t feel like they really care about plus-size people,” says Tom Burgess, analyst in fashion industry. “If brands cared about large-bodied consumers, then it wouldn’t have taken until now to acknowledge that they exist,” he says. “It gives the impression that companies are just trying to gain a share of the market without a real commitment to the community.”
The fashion industry must go beyond merely producing clothing in a range of sizes if they hope to succeed with a body -diverse world. The whole industry has to connect on a personal level with consumers. That involves showing shoppers that they are seen, understood and important to brands. “Consumers care about values, and so they want to buy from brands that reflect the values they believe in. Everyone should enjoy the same range of fashion options,” says Ludovica Cesareo, professor of marketing at the College of Business in the US.
1. What do the underlined words “the elephant in the room” mean in the first paragraph?A.The hot issue that is valued. |
B.The obvious truth that is ignored. |
C.The important principle that is recognized. |
D.The common phenomenon that is criticized. |
A.They pick sizes randomly. | B.They offer limited plus sizes. |
C.They treat designers disrespectfully. | D.They haven’t broadened standard sizes. |
A.Their designs. | B.Their quality. |
C.Their motivations. | D.Their advertisements. |
A.Buyers may deserve fashion that fits their figure. |
B.Consumers prefer brands with personalized values. |
C.Brands should catch up with the size-inclusive trend. |
D.A good brand image is critical in the fashion industry. |
5 . I recently had a conversation with a friend who was feeling very upset about work. Why? He thought his manager didn’t like him. He rarely heard much from his manager, and when his manager said something, it was about correcting some aspects of his work or giving him some constructive advice.
Not surprisingly, given my friend’s understandably anxious view of these workplace dynamics (动态), he was afraid of his annual performance evaluation. He was worried that his boss might even tell him that he wasn’t needed anymore. Accordingly, he considered looking around for another job — not because he really wanted to, as he liked the kind of work he was doing, but because he suffered from the kind of management.
The evaluation day came, and to his great surprise, rather than being harshly critical, his manager told him that he was doing a fine job and gave him a promotion.
The sad truth is, this kind of phenomenon is by no means unusual in the workplace. One recent survey showed that nearly half of the employees have considered leaving a job “due to lack of recognition”. Another similar study found 46 percent of the employees left a job “because they felt unappreciated”.
The good news is that, in this case, the damage was repaired before it was too late — before my friend was out the door and his company began the expensive and time-consuming process of hiring a new employee. But as the research noted above shows, workplace problems related to recognition and appreciation are as common as the office air we breathe.
This conforms with my personal experience; during my decades of corporate management, I saw similar appreciation issues all the time. When a job isn’t done well, nobody deserves anything, of course. But when a job is done well, if you’re an employee, it’s entirely natural to expect at least a bit of appreciation. So if you’re a manager, it’s a good idea to show some. It’s that simple.
1. What phenomenon does the author want to describe through his friend’s case?A.Unclear rewards and punishments. | B.Employee-management misunderstanding. |
C.Unfair promotion in the workplace. | D.Fierce competition among new employees. |
A.His company hired a new employee. |
B.He continued to work for the company. |
C.His company simplified the evaluation process. |
D.He repaired the relationship with his colleagues. |
A.Results from. | B.Separates from. |
C.Agrees with. | D.Contrasts with. |
A.Defend employees’ rights. | B.A friend’s unforgettable experience. |
C.Acknowledge employees’ work. | D.Misunderstanding between employees. |
1. 写信目的;
2. 形势和应对;
3. 个人观点。
注意:字数80左右。
Blessing and a curse
The popularity of AI-assisted academic writing has triggered a series of debates among experts, particularly college teachers. Currently, several Chinese higher education institutions have made their own stipulations (规定) regarding the matter. But people are still unable to agree on whether using AI-assisted writing is a novel research method or an act of academic dishonesty.
Some experts consider AI writing as just another handy tool brought by the advancement of technology. Yang Zhiping, a professor at Northeast Normal University, summarized his experience using AI writing, saying that conversations with an AI model fed with enough material helped him clarify his research approaches.
“It’s like exchanging views with an expert who is extremely knowledgeable,” said Yang. “The collision of thoughts can be helpful in developing new academic ideas.”
However, some college teachers argue that the convenience of AI-assisted writing can cause students to become dependent on it when conducting academic research, which will lead to the deterioration of the academic atmosphere.
On this matter, Fu Weidong, a professor at Central China Normal University, said that any AI-generated thesis should be reviewed in accordance with existing academic standards as well.
According to Fu, AI writing is a technology based on collecting and processing existing knowledge, and therefore can’t avoid repeating the thoughts or even exact texts from existing academic works.
“Once the repetition exceeds the allowed level, it should be considered plagiarism (抄袭),” Fu said.
Dear David,
Learning that you want to know AI-assisted academic writing in Chinese university,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
7 . People tend to cut corners and allow trusted workmates to do their work when working as a team. Now researchers have found that the same thing happens when humans work with robots.
Dietlind Cymek at the Technical University of Berlin in Germany and her colleagues designed an experiment to test whether humans would put in less effort when they think that their personal contribution to a task won’t be noticed.
In the experiment, the researchers asked a group of 42 people to examine images of circuit boards (电路板) for errors using a computer that tracked their work. Half of them looked at boards that had already been checked by a robot, and half were told that they were the only ones responsible for quality control.
People working in partnership with the robot caught fewer errors, after they had already seen that the robot had successfully flagged lots of errors.
The researchers say such teamwork could lead to a drop in motivation if individual effort isn’t visible and warn that there could be safety risks if teams of people and robots work on safety-related tasks in the same way.
Kathleen Richardson at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK, says it is fine to use robots as long as they are effective, but that they should be considered tools rather than workmates or team members. “It just strikes me that workers think when a tool can do something, they let it,” says Richardson.
This is probably down to poor management style, in which individual work isn’t recognised. “I bet you if there was an motivation behind it, and if the humans could get extra pay for spotting errors in the circuit boards, then they’d put a bit more effort into it,” she adds.
1. What is the experiment mainly about?A.Workplace safety. | B.Management style. |
C.Industrial innovation. | D.Working productivity. |
A.They preferred to work individually. |
B.They paid less attention to their work. |
C.They were not appreciative of robots’ effort. |
D.They worried about being replaced by robots. |
A.Favorable. | B.Unclear. | C.Uninterested. | D.Doubtful. |
A.Correct errors. | B.Increase work time. |
C.Reward hard work. | D.Encourage teamwork. |
8 . In modern cities, it is now time as much as space that separates urban functions, as people’s lives are lived not only to different timetables, but also at wildly different rates. The mass timetable of the industrial city, with 9-5 office hours and silent Sundays, has gone. In its
European cities are
In a number of German cities, people have been
The
Time is flexible, but buildings aren’t. The
A.report | B.side | C.place | D.way |
A.sticking to | B.responding to | C.objecting to | D.turning to |
A.for example | B.on the other hand | C.by contrast | D.in the meanwhile |
A.alter | B.discuss | C.understand | D.balance |
A.spared | B.harmonized | C.directed | D.appreciated |
A.method | B.issue | C.benefit | D.excuse |
A.debating | B.asking | C.doubting | D.revealing |
A.four | B.six | C.seven | D.nine |
A.need | B.ambition | C.pity | D.reason |
A.Above all | B.On the contrary | C.After all | D.By all means |
A.night | B.day | C.city | D.area |
A.difference | B.mismatch | C.communication | D.relationship |
A.Regulation | B.Availability | C.Adaptability | D.Observation |
A.varying | B.coming | C.accepting | D.abandoning |
A.presented | B.proved | C.established | D.challenged |
9 . Including children in the farming lifestyle has many benefits. Sure, it is nice to have the additional help with chores, but it also fosters so much growth, sending our kids down a good path towards who they will someday become. It is possible that our children will grow up to lead lives that do not include farming.
Through caring for farm animals, kids learn that in life others often come before self.
Additionally, farming teaches patience.
There may not be any instant reward, but in the long-term kids will see the benefit of all their efforts during those hard days.
A.Fairly often, things do not go your way. |
B.Kids also learn to be grateful to animals. |
C.In the meantime, they learn to work with others. |
D.Teamwork is no longer a significant skill to develop and use. |
E.Animals need to be fed and cared for before we get to sit down and relax. |
F.Kids are also able to comprehend the value of hard work through farm life. |
G.What they learn on a farm, however, can be instrumental in their future lives. |
10 . The Global Food Donation Policy Atlas has issued a recent report in order to recommend ways to increase food donations, reduce food waste, and fight hunger, which may help Kenyan leaders meet 2030 food waste reduction goals.
Food donation can reroute eatable food—that would otherwise give off greenhouse gasses in a landfill—to those experiencing hunger. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 3.5 million Kenyans, roughly 37 percent of the population, face severe hunger. At the same time, the Policy Atlas reports roughly 40 percent of food produced within Kenya goes to waste. But Broad Leib, Deputy Director of Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), sees some promising changes. “While progress is not happening as quickly as needed, Kenya’s food loss index has been steadily reduced from 1,744 metric tons in 2017, to 1,531 in 2018, to 1,446 metric tons in 2019, indicating a steady improvement and national commitment to food loss reduction,” reports Broad Leib.
According to the Policy Atlas, motivating food donation with rewards is particularly important, which helps food donors and food recovery organizations make up for costs necessary for recovery, storing, processing, and transporting food for donation.
“A major driver of food waste is inconsistent or unclear date labels that cause confusion among all actors along the value chain and limit the ability of businesses to donate food. This increases the likelihood that much safe food will go to waste,” Broad Leib tells Food Tank. However, he acknowledges Kenya’s current dual (双的) date labeling laws. While food may lose its freshness over time, it is still eatable before expiration (到期). Dual date labeling on packaged foods reduces bewilderment by defining dates for both safety and quality. This helps reduce considerable waste and responsibility for donors.
Broad Leib believes that the private sector can also play a significant role in decreasing food waste in Kenya. It is vital for consumer education campaigns. FLPC’s research shows that public-private initiatives can help raise awareness among consumers and donors around issues of food waste and food donation.
1. What changes does Broad Leib see?A.People in Kenya no longer suffer hunger. |
B.Kenya has gradually reduced its food waste. |
C.Kenya is not committed to reducing food loss. |
D.Progress in reducing food waste is happening quickly. |
A.Sadness. | B.Convenience. | C.Confusion. | D.Emotion. |
A.By increasing storehouses. |
B.By fighting hunger with rewards. |
C.By reducing food produced within the country. |
D.By using double date labeling on packaged food. |
A.Consumer education campaigns are the most important. |
B.Only the private sector is helpful in reducing food waste. |
C.Private and public joint efforts matter around food issues. |
D.Broad Leib doesn’t agree with FLPC on food waste reduction. |