1 . Why do farmers grow crops outside in fields when we can arrange them vertically (垂直地)? The idea of vertical farming was first proposed in 1999. It was seen as a way to save space, reduce air miles and transform old and abandoned buildings, like warehouses. In 2021, Fortune Business Insights valued the global vertical farming market at 3.47 billion dollars. Now, however, this industry is under threat, partly due to rising energy costs.
According to the magazine Science Focus, vertical farming gives ten times the yield (产量) of conventional outdoor farming. However, in order for crops to grow using this method, plants are placed in a controlled environment, grown not under the Sun, but under LED lights and watered with recycled water pumped on a closed-loop system (闭环系统).
Unfortunately, energy prices have risen across the globe. Therefore, this reliance on electricity has meant the last few years have not been easy for the industry. Cindy van Rijswick, from the Dutch research firm RaboResearch, has estimated that operational costs for a vertical farm are around 15% higher now compared to 18 months ago. Infarm, Europe’s largest vertical farming company, made around500 employees redundant (被裁员的) in November 2022 because they needed to downsize. They blamed higher operating costs due to energy increases as one reason for the layoffs.
Another issue related to the cost-of -living crisis and affecting vertical farming is the type of produce grown. This includes herbs such as basil, as well as salad leaves and leafy greens. Compared to traditionally farmed plants, like onions and carrots, these products tend to be more expensive, which could lead to reduced demand as consumers become more cautious about their spending.
So, it seems that a future with food grown under LED lights is looking less and less bright.
1. What is the feature of vertical farming?A.Saving urban land and achieving zero emissions. |
B.Demanding highly technical and complex control. |
C.High energy consumption and low output value. |
D.Making full use of sunlight and water resources. |
A.By making assumptions. |
B.By criticizing a typical behaviour. |
C.By listing specific data and facts. |
D.By referring to a social phenomenon. |
A.Vertical farming avoids climate and disaster impacts. |
B.Vertical farming costs jumped due to higher energy prices. |
C.Vertical farming grows high-value, cost-effective produce. |
D.High yield protects vertical farming from market competition. |
A.Is This the End of Vertical Farming? | B.Is Vertical Farming Highly Efficient? |
C.Challenges Industrial Agriculture Faces | D.New Trends in Vertical Agriculture |
2 . Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation (立法) that would require visitors to pay for a year-long license or pass to visit state parks. Josh Green is the state’s governor. He said, “We get between 9 and 10 million visitors a year, but we only have 1.4 million people living here.” He added, “Those 10 million travellers should be helping us sustain our environment.” Lawmakers still debating how much they would charge.
The governor campaigned in 2022 on the idea of having all tourists pay a $50 fee to enter the state. Legislators think this would violate US constitutional protections for free travel. They instead think visitors should pay to enter parks and trails. Either policy would be a first of its kind for any US state. Hawaii’s leaders are following the example of other popular tourist areas with similar fees or taxes. They include Venice, Italy, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Hawaii State Representative Sean Quinlan is the leader of the House Tourism Committee. He said changes in the activities of travellers are part of Hawaii’s push. He said golf rounds per visitor per day have dropped 30 percent over the past 10 years while hiking has increased50 percent. People are also seeking out isolated places they have seen on social media. The state does not have the money to oversee and protect all these places, he said.
Most state parks and trails are currently free. Some of the most popular ones already charge, like Diamond Head State Monument. That trail leads hikers from the floor of a 300,000-year-old volcano up to the top. It gets 1 million visitors each year and costs $5for each traveller.
A bill currently before the legislature would require visitors over the age of 15to buy a yearly pass to visit forests, parks, trails or “other natural area on state land”. People who live in Hawaii would not need to pay.
1. What does the underlined word “violate” mean in Paragraph 2?A.Break. | B.Establish. | C.Uphold. | D.Perfect. |
A.The decreasing number of tourists to Hawaii. |
B.Advantages of Hawaii’s tourism resources. |
C.The increasing financial burden of Hawaii. |
D.One reason for wanting to charge tourists. |
A.None of the attractions in Hawaii charge fees currently. |
B.The goal to charge fees is to limit the number of tourists. |
C.Lawmakers are arguing about whether charging fees is legal. |
D.Charging fees is beneficial for Hawaii’s natural environment. |
A.A news report. | B.A travel guide. |
C.A law textbook. | D.A promotional brochure. |
3 . On Friday, Japanese researchers announced a population clock that showed a dangerous situation that the Japanese nation would disappear in 1,000 years if the falling birth rate kept the present level. Researchers in the northern city of Sendai said that Japan’s population of children aged up to 14, which now stands at 16.6 million, was falling at the rate of one child per 100 seconds. It would lead to a terrible result that there would be no children left in Japan in 1,000 years.
“If the rate keeps falling at that rate in our country, there will only be one child who is able to enjoy the following Children’s Day left on May 5th,3011,” said Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Toholu University. “But 100 seconds later, a national disaster that there are no children left in Japan will happen,” he added, “The nation’s people will disappear for the birth rate has fallen to the level that every woman has no more than two children, which started in 1975.” Yoshida said they created the population clock to make Japanese people pay close attention to that problem for their nation’s future.
Another study showed that Japan’s population was expected to fall to one third of the present population amount: 127.7 million in the next century. The Japanese government predicted that the birth rate would just become 1.35 children per parents within 50 years.
At the same time, Japanese life expectancy which is expected to ascend from 86.93 years in 2010 to 90.93 years in 2060 for women and from 79.64 years to 84.19 years for men has already been one of the highest in the world. More than 20 percent of the Japanese are aged 65 or over.
It means that Japan has become one of the countries with aging populations in the world. The problem of aging populations is a headache for the government and the Japanese economy because there are fewer and fewer workers who can make money for the country. However, the government has to face the terrible situation that it needs to offer a growing number of pensions.
1. Why did researchers think Japanese people would disappear in 1,000 years?A.Because the birth rate of the nation is at a very low level. |
B.Because Japan will be destroyed by a serious earthquake. |
C.Because the Japanese are afraid of the changing environment. |
D.Because the country will sink in the Pacific Ocean gradually. |
A.Children’s Day will be called off | B.16.6 million Japanese children may die |
C.Japan will become a country without children | D.The birth rate of Japan will go up slowly |
A.tell people that the Japanese life expectancy is the highest |
B.show the change of the Japanese population since 1975 |
C.explain the reason why there is a low birth rate in Japan |
D.let the Japanese give special importance to the population problems |
A.The life expectancy will be 90.93 years for women. |
B.The government will receive a growing number of pensions. |
C.The population of Japan may only be about 42 million. |
D.The birth rate will be 1.35 children per family. |
(1)越来越多的人通过做整形手术、穿奇装异服、过度化妆等来追求外在美;
(2)你的看法及理由;
(3)结论。
注意:
(1)词数80左右;
(2)不要逐条翻译,可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
参考词汇:plastic surgery 整形手术
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5 . In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image. I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit—I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness. Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1. What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?A.The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself. |
B.The author agrees to spend money on material things. |
C.The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels. |
D.The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends. |
A.traveling changes a person’s identity greatly |
B.people dislike those who love luxuries |
C.experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries |
D.luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness |
A.Be selective about designer labels. | B.Create your own personal unique style. |
C.Choose styles that are simple and comfortable. | D.Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s. |
A.persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries |
B.prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life |
C.tell how to express yourself through appearances |
D.report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness |
6 . The first wave of concerns over artificial intelligence(AI)in 2023 appeared soon after New Year’s Day when classrooms reopened and schools from Seattle to Paris started blocking ChatGPT, a powerful software based on AI large language models, because teenagers were using it to do their homework.
The AI large language models behind such products as ChatGPT work by repeatedly guessing the next word in a sentence after having “learned” the rules from a huge amount of/human-written works. Although they often get facts wrong, their answers appear so natural that Keven, their inventors begin to worry about their possible use for spreading false information.
People became more worried when various AI products started to create not just texts but novel images, music and human voices, which threatened the livelihoods of anyone who writes, draws or sings for a living. It led to strikes by Hollywood writers and actors and legal challenges from artists and bestselling authors. Some of the most respected scientists even warned that the technology’s unchecked progress was possibly threatening human existence. “In the longer term, they might manage our attention,” pioneering AI scientist Fei Fei Lisaid. “They would tell us which video to watch, which book to read or whose communication to respond as AI technology’s abilities improve rapidly. They could be a very good assistant, but also with really big risks.”
Li hoped that 2023 is going to be a year for people to think about what Al is, how to use it and what the effects are — all the good, the bad and the ugly.
“It’s easy to forget that they are not the first wave of AI products. Computer vision techniques developed by Li and other scientists have helped sort through a huge database of photos to recognize objects and individual faces and guide self-driving cars. Speech recognition advances have made voice assistants like Siri and Alexa a normal thing in many people’s lives,” said Tom Gruber, co-founder of Siri Inc.
1. Why did schools try to stop their students from using ChatGPT?A.ChatGPT often got facts wrong in the class. |
B.Students spent too much time on the software. |
C.ChatGPT helped students spread false information. |
D.Students used the software to cheat at their homework. |
A.AI’s training costs. | B.ATs amazing abilities. |
C.AI’s possible threats. | D.AI’s fast developments. |
A.Think carefully about AI’s impact. | B.Welcome AI technology |
C.Do use ChatGPT more carefully. | D.Upgrade ChatGPT in time. |
A.A news report. | B.A guide book to a software. |
C.A product review. | D.An introduction to a person. |
7 . Clockmaking is a traditional technology which involves the building and repair of clocks. But it is now on the red list drawn up by the Heritage Crafts Association (HCA), which has warned more specialists are retiring than entering the profession.
David Poole, a former master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, said, “Although there used to be clockmakers on the street, a clock repair shop is a rare sight today.” Waiting lists will just grow, and people will find it extremely difficult to identify anyone to repair their clocks. There are only about 250 makers and repairers left across Britain, according to HCA’s research.
When specialists are approaching retirement, they often cannot afford to take on apprentices (学徒) as happened in the past. Besides, it is feared that the few training courses that have survived will not fill the gap.
Howard Walwyn, a leading dealer in Kensington, warned that, if expertise in repairing is lost, clocks will become lifeless objects rather than living things, adding, “Most clockmakers have fiddled with clocks as kids, taking them apart, and trying to get them to work. The problem is that young kids now are spending all their time in front of screens. I’ve got some younger clockmakers, but they’re few and far between.”
“There are also concerns that too many clockmakers are prepared to use modern mechanical solutions to make a clock work, even if those solutions are aesthetically (审美地) wrong,” said Jonathan Betts, an adviser to the National Trust. He added, “Museum collections and more sensitive private collectors would much rather not have a clock cleaned so it looks brand new, but an awful lot of restorers reject that. “Mr Poole, who became a clockmaker in the 1990s, said, “There are few people coming into the business. Most people who are in it are edging towards retirement, so am I. If people aren’t skilled, all those lovely things won’t be looked after properly.”
1. What phenomenon does the author describe in paragraph 2?A.Clockmakers are in great need. |
B.The clockmaking industry is declining. |
C.Clock repair shops are common. |
D.It is rare for people to repair their clocks. |
A.They compared with apprentices. | B.They took the training course. |
C.They collected some clocks. | D.They employed apprentices. |
A.Begun. | B.Argued. | C.Played. | D.Broken. |
A.Many repairers adopt modern methods in clockmaking. |
B.Many restorers are incapable of fixing mechanical clocks. |
C.Private collectors show no interest in traditional techniques. |
D.Museums refuse to include cleaned clocks in their collections. |
8 . Aloha is perhaps one of the most recognized words in the world. Many
Arica Lynn Souza, whose
“I
Kaliko Kaauamo is a Hawaiian-language expert and curriculum designer. When asked what aloha looks like, she quickly paints a
During a disaster, community members usually
A.children | B.businesses | C.speakers | D.families |
A.treat | B.greet | C.praise | D.help |
A.disaster | B.phenomenon | C.idea | D.incident |
A.terrible | B.tasty | C.traditional | D.expensive |
A.started | B.survived | C.missed | D.recorded |
A.forest | B.shop | C.home | D.school |
A.needs | B.accepts | C.ignores | D.dislikes |
A.cold | B.comfortable | C.reasonable | D.special |
A.escaped | B.dropped | C.argued | D.separated |
A.vivid | B.bright | C.funny | D.sad |
A.carelessly | B.immediately | C.unnecessarily | D.hardly |
A.in person | B.in advance | C.in return | D.in ruins |
A.romantic | B.realistic | C.conditional | D.selfless |
A.turn | B.tend | C.refuse | D.pretend |
A.constant | B.unhealthy | C.understandable | D.sudden |
1. 介绍你班同学使用手机的情况;
2. 你的感受和建议。
注意: 1. 写作词数应为80个左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
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10 . BE A GOOD TOURIST
Tourism can be both good and bad.
One growing problem is tourists who want to prove that they have visited a destination. Tourists have used paint, rocks, or even keys to write on the Luxor temple in Egypt, the Colosseum in Rome, Stonehenge in the UK, memorial stones at the bottom of Qomolangma, and many, many other places.
The number of problems from tourists is endless: walking in large groups without considering others who need to walk by, crossing roads without thinking of local traffic laws, and many more. The only way to solve the problem of the terrible tourist is to make sure that you are not one!
A.Be smart, curious and creative tourist. |
B.Be the best, kindest, and most considerate tourist possible. |
C.Here are examples of traveling without permission |
D.Thousands of tourist sites are being destroyed by tourists who love them to death. |
E.I have some words for tourists like this: please be considerate towards the local people. |
F.Another big problem in some places has been tourists disturbing the local people and life. |
G.Yes, it brings in money for the local economy and creates lots of jobs for locals, but it may also bring some problems. |