1 . It’s commonly acknowledged that our lives are ruled by algorithms (算法), but have we really collectively understood how they have transformed our culture and personality?
In Filterworld: How algorithms flattened culture, Kyle Chayka argues convincingly that the rise of algorithm-driven feeds, used everywhere online from Instagram to Spotify, has led to a more uniform culture. Our tastes and desires increasingly don’t belong to us, but to algorithms that are designed to keep people engaged at all costs. If the collection of our tastes truly shapes our entire personality, then this loss is more psychologically damaging than it first appears. Aimlessly scrolling (滚屏) through Netflix or TikTok may seem harmless, but over days, months or years, we lose touch with what we like and enjoy.
Taste-making algorithms are inescapable. Chayka shows this by working through all corners of life: what we wear(TikTok), where we eat(Google Maps), music we listen to(Spotify), even who we date or marry(Tinder). This universe of algorithm-driven decisions has society-wide implications: “It extends to influence our physical spaces, our cities, and the routes we move through…flattening them in turn.” No one gets out of the Filterworld untouched.
If you’re lucky enough not to need any sort of algorithm-based system for your work, then you have the option to step back from algorithms for a while. But if your friend suggests a film recommended on X/Twitter or you feel the need to buy those shoes suddenly everyone has started wearing after social media advertisements, what are you to do? It all feels fruitless.
This Filterworld may be inescapable, but there is hope. You can start by engaging more with the media you do choose to consume. This could mean reading up about a film you watched or paying artists you like directly. Even the thoughtful act of recommending an album (专辑) to a friend is more rewarding than a random TikTok feed. As Chayka says, resistance to algorithms “requires an act of willpower, a choice to move through the world in a different way.”
1. What is Kyle Chayka’s opinion on algorithms?A.They improve our tastes. | B.They make our culture more alike. |
C.They help to identify our personality. | D.They contribute to psychological problems. |
A.The society with advanced technology. | B.The world without social media platforms. |
C.The network of algorithm-driven decisions. | D.The community free from algorithmic influence. |
A.Limiting the use of social media platforms. | B.Making choices based on friends’ suggestions. |
C.Getting more involved with the selected media. | D.Disconnecting from social media advertisements. |
A.Algorithms: Cultural Takeover | B.The Secret of Algorithms |
C.Social Media: Cultural Messenger | D.The Rise of Digital Platforms |
注意:1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Hello, everyone!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your attention.
3 . The good news is that more people bought electric vehicles (EVs) in 2020. The bad news is that sport utility (多用途的) vehicles (SUVs) continued to grow in popularity, too. “The fall in oil consumption due to the first trend was completely canceled out by the second,” said Laura Cozzi, an officer at the International Energy Agency (JEA).
Between 2010 and 2020, global carbon dioxide emissions (排放) from conventional cars fell by nearly 35 billion tons, due to reasons such as fuel efficiency improvements as well as the switch to electric cars. Emissions from SUVs rose by more than 50 billion tons. “While the growth in EVs is encouraging, the boom in SUVs is heart-breaking,” says Peters at the Cicero Climate Research Centre in Norway.
There are many reasons for the growing popularity of SUVs. For example, rising economic boom in many countries means more people are able to afford them. Some people see them as status symbols. Also, SUVs are heavily advertised by car-makers, whose profit is higher on these vehicles. Some countries, including France, have introduced plans under which more taxes are paid on heavier cars. But Peters thinks that people who are rich enough to afford SUVs won’t be deterred by slightly higher taxes. “There are now some electric SUVs available, but I hope one day you will see more electric vehicles brought to the SUV market,” says Peters.
Even if it happens, switching to electric SUVs isn’t a good solution. Due to their size and bigger batteries, it takes more resources to build electric SUVs, and they consume around 15 percent more electricity. That means higher emissions unless the electricity comes entirely from renewable sources, and higher electricity demand makes it harder to green the electricity supply.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?A.Scientists should devote themselves to improving fuel efficiency. |
B.The popularity of SUVs destroys some efforts to protect the environment. |
C.Electric vehicles will certainly take the place of sport utility vehicles. |
D.The emission of carbon dioxide of motor vehicles has hit a new low. |
A.Encouraged. | B.Removed. |
C.Discouraged | D.Connected. |
A.SUVs are discounted heavily. |
B.SUVs consume fewer resources than other vehicles. |
C.SUVs are often advertised by car producers. |
D.SUVs are taxed at a lower rate in some countries. |
A.More electric SUVs don’t necessarily mean “environment-friendly” . |
B.The electric SUVs are a good guarantee for less pollution. |
C.The electric SUVs should be made smaller and lighter. |
D.Future electric SUVs will be powered with completely green energy. |
4 . It’s no secret that reading good news feels a lot better than reading bad news. Like, would you rather bite into a lemon, or sip on a fresh glass of lemonade?
In fact, good news, known as solutions journalism, is becoming more popular, as publishers and news stations discover the benefits of sharing positive stories. Good Good Good is one of them.
“If it bleeds, it leads.” has long been a saying used in the media to describe how news stories about violence, death and destruction draw readers’ attention.
A.Share good news with people around you. |
B.It’s just that we don’t hear as much about them. |
C.But the “bad news” has its place in the world. |
D.It provides a more balanced view of the world. |
E.And so, negative news stories are everywhere on news media. |
F.Heartwarming stories make you cry and feel good. |
G.The news media company is devoted to providing good news intentionally. |
5 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.
Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.
Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”
Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.
Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”
Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”
1. What can we say about the new research?A.It started in 2013. | B.It is the first of its kind. |
C.It was carried out by AIS. | D.It covers the whole Atlantic. |
A.Rapid population growth. |
B.Rising global temperatures. |
C.The huge increase in shipping. |
D.The disappearance of marine life. |
A.Shipping plays an important role in the local economy. |
B.Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment. |
C.Noise pollution is closely related to human activity. |
D.Marine areas should be monitored more carefully. |
A.New waterways across the Atlantic |
B.The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic |
C.New research opens windows into life under the water |
D.Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping |
High school years are a large part in shaping
Peer pressure is the influence from members of one’s peer group. This can include influencing another to drink, smoke, cheat on a test, lie, skip class, and etc. The list is
Despite the fact that peer pressure is most commonly seen as a very negative issue, it can
The buzzwords “brittle college students” has exploded on social media, with a great deal of comments
The “2020 China University Students Health Survey Report” published by China Youth Daily pointed out that
In addition
8 . When plates are set on the table, phones, rather than forks, are at the ready. At this point in our social media entanglement (纠缠), the fact that the camera eats first is pretty much a given. Sure, some chefs, including Michelin rated star chefs, express their displeasure at this, but efforts to make the table a screen-free domain have mostly fallen flat.
New research from Aston University has found that people are indeed influenced by the food photos that their friends post on social media. For example, for every serving of fruits and vegetables that a person thinks their friends are eating, they’ll eat one-fifth of a serving more. This number makes more sense within the context of the recommended “five a day”, meaning someone who’s being influenced would make a point of eating six portions of fruits or vegetables. Similarly, for every three portions of junk food that a person sees friends consuming on social media, they’ll eat an extra one.
The researchers have also suggested that social media can be very beneficial when it comes to people’s choices of food and their diets. Study supervisors Dr. Jason Thomas said, “The implication is that we can use social media as a tool to encourage each other’s eating choice within friendship groups, and use this knowledge as a tool for public health interventions.”
Actually, the daily food situation is somewhat different from everything else posted on social media. People also desire to copy what they see but they need good social media literacy skills in order to grasp what’s realistic and what’s absurd. It is necessary to avoid the fake perfection of social media.
It gets boring trying to figure out what to eat three times a day, week after week, so no wonder people want to take the path of least resistance and eat what their friends are eating. Unfortunately, most of what gets posted is the more time-consuming recipes or the attractively styled restaurant meals. By all means, keep your antennae (触角) out for new ideas, but gather them from food magazines, cookbooks, store flyers, reliable cooking websites, and recommended recipes from friends and family.
1. What phenomenon is talked about in Para.1?A.The influence of social media on people’s diet. |
B.People’s taking photos of food before eating. |
C.Chefs’ efforts to make the table screen-free. |
D.The pursuit of dining in fancy restaurant. |
A.They’ll copy what their friends do. |
B.They’ll take junk food more seriously. |
C.They’ll consume more than their friends. |
D.They’ll care more about their friends’ eating habits. |
A.Positive. | B.Doubtful. | C.Concerned. | D.Unclear. |
A.Point out the unreality of social media. |
B.Call on people to enrich their knowledge in cooking. |
C.Introduce the general classification of food posted online. |
D.Encourage people to broaden their sources of food inspiration. |
9 . While English is getting more important in our schools, Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. But Chinese can be more difficult to learn. At least 16-year-old Piao Chenglong thinks so. “English is easier for me. Chinese characters (汉字) have too many strokes (笔画),” said Piao. “But I want to learn it. I want to study at Beijing University when I grow up.” Piao is from Korea. He came to China in 2008.
In Korea, there are more than 300, 000 Chinese learners like Piao. Some Korean students begin to learn to write the language on their first day at school. To help students learn Chinese, Korea holds speaking competitions for high school students every year.
Chinese isn’t just popular in Korea. People from all the world want to learn it. The Ministry of Education of China says that nearly 130 million people from 85 countries are learning Chinese. This number will be increasing to 800 million in the coming years.
In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. Some American middle schools have Chinese classes. Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots (中国结). Some even try to write and draw in the Chinese way!
People want to learn Chinese because China is becoming such an important country. Foreign countries want to understand China better to help them with business. The Chinese government is also helping the world learn Chinese. It has sent more than 200 Chinese teachers to more than 60 countries in the world. Many more Confucius Institutes (孔子学院) will be set up in the world. These institutes will teach Chinese to foreign students.
1. Which of the following is the topic sentence for the text?A.Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. |
B.Chinese can be more difficult to learn. |
C.In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. |
D.Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots. |
A.China. | B.America. | C.Korea. | D.Spain. |
A.making jiaozi |
B.writing and drawing in the Chinese way |
C.tying Chinese knots |
D.singing Chinese songs |
A.Because Chinese is getting more important in their schools. |
B.Because Chinese characters have too many strokes. |
C.Because the number of people learning Chinese will be 800 million. |
D.Because China is becoming more and more important in the world. |
10 . First aid is a crucial aspect of healthcare that can significantly save someone’s life or prevent further injury or illness. Knowing when to use first aid is essential so that proper measures are taken promptly.
Injuries and Accidents
One of the most common instances where first aid is required is in injuries and accidents.
Cardiac Arrest (心脏停跳)
Another critical situation where first aid can make a difference is during a cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops functioning; immediate intervention is necessary.
Choking and Suffocation (窒息)
Choking and suffocation are emergencies that can occur at any time, and immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further complications. If someone is choking, it is essential to act quickly.
When to use first aid can significantly save someone’s life or prevent further injury or illness.
A.In any emergency, it is essential to remain calm. |
B.This can include cuts, burns, falls, sprains, and other unpleasant injuries. |
C.If someone has taken a poisonous substance, calling emergency services. |
D.Perform the Heimlich manoeuvre to force out the object causing the obstruction. |
E.Bleeding and overdose are medical emergencies that require immediate attention. |
F.This blog post will discuss when to use first aid and the importance of early intervention. |
G.Blood circulation (血液循环) and oxygen supply to vital organs should be restored immediately. |