1、_____ many times, he finally understood it.
A.Told B.Telling C.Having told D.Having been told
2、_______ with the severe situation, the expert suggested the market referred to at once.
A.Facing; be shut down B.Faced; being shut down
C.To Face; being shut down D.Faced; be shut down
3、Snaking through the deserts, the Nile would flood almost _____ each year in June.
A.normally B.variably C.invariably D.increasingly
4、Top students are not merely those who sit up late and study. It is efficiency ______ matters.
A.that B.how C.what D.which
5、 -It's getting dark. I must be off now.
-OK, please take care and ________ my best wishes to your family.
A.accomplish B.clarify C.preserve D.Convey
6、The drug is said to have side effects and has been __________ from the market for further tests.
A. withdrawn B. cancelled
C. renewed D. appointed
7、The president is committed to _______ the existing system of medical care.
A.reform B.reforming C.have reformed D.having reformed
8、As for his advantages, he has 20 years’ teaching experience to _______.
A.draw on B.draw back C.draw up D.draw in
9、They either sat there________ or stood ________ to the ground, ________at the tree covered with hundreds of ribbons, which looked like a banner of welcome ________ in the wind.
A.stunning … rooting … starting … billowing
B.stunned … rooted … stared … billowed
C.stunning … rooting … stared … billowed
D.stunned … rooted … staring … billowing
10、Everyone in the classroom _________ laughing when they saw the boy-student dress himself like a girl.
A.burst out
B.put into
C.took off
D.got across
11、According to a review of 56 studies the more a person is________to classical music as a child,the better he can control his mood as a grown-up.
A.revealed B.exposed C.proposed D.reminded
12、___________to his dream,in my opinion,is the reason why he can succeed in the end.
A.Being committed B.Committed C.Committing D.To commit
13、I feel most angry about the way ______ I’ve been treated.
A. which B. where
C. that D. how
14、If Lincoln had lived, it________ be that his postwar policies would have brought criticism upon him that would________ his reputation.
A.might as well … have tarnished B.might well … have tarnished
C.might as well … tarnish D.might well … tarnish
15、In his inspiring book Spontaneous Healing, Andrew Weil recommends: “Make a list of friends and acquaintances ______ company you feel more alive, happier, more optimistic”
A. with whom B. of whom
C. in whose D. under whose
16、--Does the young man _____ there have possession of the company?
--No, The company is _____ his father.
A. standing; in the possession of B. stood; in the possession of
C. standing; in possession of D. stand; in possession of
17、Someone who_____ you to something you are not comfortable doing will stress you out.
A.asks B.pressures C.strains D.stresses
18、The economist argues that no society can surely be flourishing and happy, ________ of the members are poor and miserable.
A.of which the far greater part
B.of which far greater part
C.of whom the far greater part
D.of whom far greater part
19、________ they are most interested in is ________ they can return to the campus life.
A.What; how
B.That; when
C.What; what
D.That; why
20、---Oh, help! The pan is on fire!
---_______. I can handle it.
A.Take it easy
B.Stop shouting
C.Help yourself
D.You bet
21、Having finished her own painting, Mary went on others in the art class.
A. helping B. to help
C. with help D. having helped
22、---Can you see the building clearly in the foggy day?
--- It makes no _______to me whether it’s foggy or not, for I’m blind.
A.sense
B.mistake
C.difference
D.meaning
23、In 2019, Chinese smartphone maker Huawei launched its product of the year — Mate X, _______ a folding screen and 5G technology.
A.featuring
B.to feature
C.features
D.having featured
24、My telephone is out of order. Can you tell me the ____ news about the COVID-19 pandemic?
A.lately
B.latest
C.later
D.latter
25、I can’t believe that they _____ my debt card twice for something that was never shipped.
A. charged B. awarded
C. rewarded D. cost
26、 The moon and its possible influence over human behaviors have been objects of tales for centuries. Although the full moon can't turn people into werewolves (狼人), some people do blame it for causing a bad night's sleep or discomfort.
To find out if lunar phases (月相) affected humans, an international group of researchers studied children to see if their sleeping patterns changed or if there were any differences in their daily activities. The research studied a total of 5, 812 children from five continents. Data collection took place over 28 months, which is the same as the number of lunar cycles. These were then divided into three lunar phases: full moon, half-moon and new moon.
The findings of the study indicated that in general, sleep duration around full moon reported an average decrease of five minutes compared to new moon. “Our study provides evidence that the moon doesn't seem to influence people's behaviors,” said Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput from the Eastern Ontario Research Institute. The only significant finding was one percent sleep decrease in full moon. However, sleeping for five minutes less time during a full moon is not a danger to health. “Our behaviors are largely influenced by many other factors like genes, education and income,” he added.
“Folk tales and even certain examples suggest that behaviors of humans and animals are affected by lunar phases,” Dr. Chaput explained. “Whether there is science behind it or not, the moon secret will continue to attract human civilizations in the years to come.”
【1】Where does the moon's bad influence on human behaviors usually come from?
A.Tales. B.Textbooks. C.News reports. D.Scientific papers.
【2】Why did the research last 28 months ?
A.To attract more attention. B.To cover the lunar cycles.
C.To look into more children. D.To collect as much data as possible.
【3】What can be concluded from the findings ?
A.We should go to bed five minutes earlier during a full moon.
B.The moon is a major cause to affect our sleep and behaviors.
C.We shouldn't worry about the moon's influence over health.
D.The moon plays a significant role in children's sleeping patterns.
【4】How does Dr. Chaput feel about the topic of the moon influence?
A.It's boring. B.It's worrying C.It's frightening . D.It's interesting.
27、Cheese and red wine are basic diets over the festive period, and if you love red wine and cheese, a new study will come as music to your ears. Researchers from low a State University have revealed that drinking red wine and eating cheese can help to reduce cognitive decline.
In the study, the researchers analyzed data from 1,787 adults aged 46 to 77, and asked them to complete questionnaires about their food and alcohol consumption. The results showed that cheese was the most protective food against age-related cognitive problems, even into late life. Daily consumption of red wine was also shown to improve cognitive function, while weekly consumption of lamb was shown to improve long-term cognitive skills. However, over-consumption of salt was found to increase the risk of cognitive decline.
Dr. Auriel Willette, who led the study, said: “I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that appropriately eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world. Although we considered whether this was just due to what rich people eat and drink, clinical trials at random are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways.”
While the reason for the link remains unclear, the researchers believe that cheese and red wine may protect some people from the effects of Alzheimer's.
Brandon Klinedinst, an author of the study, added: “Depending on the genetic factors you carry, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimer's, while others seem to be at greater risk. Perhaps the silver bullet we're looking for is improving how we eat. Knowing what that involves contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer's and putting this disease in an opposite path.”
【1】What is the study mainly about?
A.Basic diets over the festive period.
B.Possible reasons for cognitive decline.
C.Feelings of pleasant music to people's ears.
D.Effects of certain diets on cognitive decline.
【2】Which of the following increases the risk of cognitive problems?
A.Taking in too much salt.
B.Eating cheese properly.
C.Drinking red wine daily.
D.Consuming lamb weekly.
【3】What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A.Changes in our diet help our brains in significant ways.
B.The diets of wealthy people were not taken into account.
C.The study results need to be proved by more clinical trials.
D.COVID-19 pandemic makes our world increasingly complex.
【4】What does the underlined phrase “silver bullet" in the last paragraph probably mean?
A.Genetic factor.
B.Easy solution.
C.Special metal.
D.Certain food.
28、 I have traveled to many places-the jungles where the water is unsafe; places with the wildest animals. Friends always ask why I,a middle-aged woman with no athletic talent,go to such places. I never know how to answer - Just I want to put my toes in the mud of adventure.
I stopped traveling nine years ago after I suffered a stroke (中风)caused by a disease, APS. To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me that traveling to remote places without medical help would be risky. A slip on a damp temple step,even a slight traffic accident,would no longer be mere annoyances.
My return to travel after my stroke came in baby steps —a feast in Texas; a visit to my mom in Virginia, They all came back,the freedom,the excitement and the fresh air.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband in visiting China. After we had toured a temple, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (平底雪橇).Before the stroke it would have seemed like fun for me. But now I stepped back. I feared. My mind screamed warnings of a fall or a crash. Then gathering confidence from nowhere,I lowered myself and took the flying toboggan ride,which marked my adventure travel's coming back. Since then, I’ve dared to take challenges and have challenged many places.
But I watch my medicine like an eagle. I get my blood tested. I weigh the risks. Then, if I decide it’s okay, like that toboggan ride down the mountain, I just jump in, let go and enjoy the ride. I think I travel for hoping to broaden my world and keep me connected with friends and families. Most of all,saying "yes” to travel is related to my APS. If I let myself be afraid to travel,then my APS will win.
【1】How do the author’ friends react to her adventures?
A. They try to stop her. B. They don't understand her.
C. They admire her. D. They are inspired.
【2】What do we know about the author's return to travel?
A. She followed her doctor's advice.
B. She gradually overcame challenges.
C. She was encouraged by her husband.
D. She got more enthusiastic about toboggan.
【3】What does the visit in China mean to the author?
A. A turning point. B. A fun experience.
C. A health alarm. D. A life-and-death test.
【4】What's the main reason for the author to continue her adventures now?
A. To relax herself. B. To broaden her mind.
C. To keep herself connected. D. To fight her disease.
29、There will be days when you do not have much to do. Perhaps because you are waiting for someone else in a different department or a different company to respond to a request. As the clock ticks past 5 pm, there may be no purpose in staying at your desk. But you can see you hard at work and, more important. they can see you. So you make an effort to look busy.
Some of this may he a self-perpetuating(白生自存)cycle. If bosses do not like to go home before their workers, and workers fear leaving before their bosses, everyone is trapped. Staff may feel that they will not get a pay rise, or a promotion, if they are not seen to be putting in maximum effort. This is easily confused with long hours. Managers, who are often no good at judging employees 'performance, use time in the office as an alternative.
The consequence is often wasted effort. Rather than work hard, you work hard to make bosses think that you are. Leaving a jacket on your office chair, walking around purposefully with a notebook or clipboard and sending out emails at odd hours are three of the best-known tricks. After a while this can result in collective self-cheat that this pretence is actual work.
But presenteeism(出勤)has more serious consequences. As well as reducing productivity, this can increase medical expenses for the employer. According to a study, these costs can be six times higher for employers than the costs of absenteeism among workers. To take one example, research published in the British Medical Journal found that Japanese employees with lower-back pain were three times more likely to turn up for work than in Britain. As a result, those workers were more likely to experience greater pain and to suffer from depression. What could be more upset than being in pain while feeling trapped at work?
None of this is to say that employers haven't the right to expect workers to be in the office for an acceptable proportion of time. Unavoidably there will be a need for some(preferably short)meetings. Dealing with colleagues face-to-face creates a feeling of trust and friendship, allows for a useful exchange of ideas and enables workers to have a better sense of their needs.
But modern machinery like smartphones and laptops is portable. It can be used as easily at home as in the office. Turing an office into a prison, with prisoners allowed home for the evenings, does nothing for the creativity that is increasingly demanded of office workers as routine tasks are automated. To be productive you need presence of mind, not being present in the flesh.
【1】Why do employees still stay at their desk after work?
A.To keep their bosses company.
B.To get more overtime allowance.
C.To put extra efforts into their work.
D.To give their bosses a good impression.
【2】One of the consequences of presenteeism is that___________?
A.employers will pay workers higher wages
B.workers will suffer physically and mentally
C.workers will perform their job more efficiently
D.the effort put in by workers will finally pay off
【3】Working in the office for some time can help_________?
A.build better social bonds
B.bring bosses more profits
C.organize a meeting efficiently
D.satisfy workers 'material needs
【4】What would the author probably agree with?
A.Presenteeism can't help develop creativity.
B.Absence from work reduces productivity.
C.Presence at work will be more joyful.
D.Technology makes life puzzling.
30、When the one-year anniversary(周年) of my mother’s passing came around, I found myself in the kitchen preparing some of her favorite dishes. I hadn’t planned this, _______ there I was, making her famous soup from the turkey I had roasted the day before.
As I was cooking, some of the deep sadness I was experiencing at this one-year mark moved through me. I loved working with mom in the kitchen but now thinking about her, I began to feel more _______.
While the _______ boiled in my kitchen, I realized that I was reconnecting with my mother through _______. I laughed a bit at myself when I thought about all the dishes I had cooked that week. _________ knowing it, I had created a beautiful ritual(仪式) to honor my mother and to _________ myself at this time. I suddenly felt my mother at hand and this place was filled with her presence. I was so _________ that I began talking to her, acting _______ she were here with me.
“What else should we make?” I asked us both, wanting to keep the ritual from _______.
“Irish Potato Pancakes” was the reply.
________ I made potato pancakes was two and a half years ago. I had ________ my engagement(订婚) ring to make the dough(面团), and never found it again. Since then, I ________ to use that recipe(菜谱) even though I really liked those pancakes. It’s sort of ________ but I never considered making them again, treating them as if they were to blame for the loss of my ring.
My mom knew how ________ I was about losing my ring. I had always called her whenever I lost something. She had a talent for helping me find my way to lost things, ________ this time.
I reached for the ________ without another thought of the ring. My mom did love Irish things and these were delicious. I opened the large cookbook and ________ the pancake recipe. At once, ________ at the bottom of the page ________. There, pressed into the pages of the cookbook, was my diamond ring! I slipped my ring onto my trembling hand and a smile filled my soul as I whispered, “Thanks, mom.”
That day, I made potato pancakes ________ the shape of hearts.
【1】
A.if
B.so
C.but
D.or
【2】
A.painful
B.cheerful
C.disappointed
D.grateful
【3】
A.coffee
B.soup
C.wine
D.tea
【4】
A.fruit
B.drink
C.vegetables
D.food
【5】
A.Without
B.After
C.By
D.For
【6】
A.serve
B.encourage
C.comfort
D.harm
【7】
A.clever
B.brave
C.lucky
D.excited
【8】
A.though
B.as soon as
C.while
D.as if
【9】
A.ending
B.existing
C.lasting
D.beginning
【10】
A.The first time
B.The last time
C.Every time
D.The moment
【11】
A.searched for
B.taken off
C.sold out
D.forgotten about
【12】
A.liked
B.realized
C.refused
D.remembered
【13】
A.mysterious
B.silly
C.worrying
D.serious
【14】
A.scared
B.curious
C.surprised
D.upset
【15】
A.except
B.including
C.besides
D.concerning
【16】
A.dough
B.pancakes
C.cookbook
D.soup
【17】
A.turned to
B.depended on
C.prepared for
D.talked about
【18】
A.the ring
B.words
C.something
D.everything
【19】
A.paid my attention
B.caught my eye
C.reminded me of
D.won me back
【20】
A.with
B.to
C.for
D.in
31、 Around three years ago, I was at a stop sign when I heard slightly barking coming from in a car parked on the street near me. It was very _________ and the dog was trying to get some of the cooler fresh air outside the car. Without thinking I _________ my car and got out to help him.
There was no way to _________ the dog because the car was locked. Thinking of the irresponsible owner I became _________. I didn't know if I should _________ the window and take the dog or try to contact the owner. Just then, I _________ a police car on the opposite side of the street. I ran out to seek for help.
When the police officer helped open the door, the dog _________ both of us and ran quickly towards the garage the car was parked in front of. We _________ the dog to make sure he was OK. Then we saw _________ the dog had run: The dog’s owner was __________ in the middle of his garage.
Obviously the man had a condition that caused him to have a(n) __________. This one was particularly __________ and required medical attention. After the incident I learned that had I not __________, both the dog and the man would likely have died. I was overcome with __________ and my eyes swelled up. I realized how much of an effect you can have on other people's lives by doing the __________ thing. I was so quick to __________ assuming the dog’s owner ignored his pet. And if the police officer had not been around I might have just left a(n) __________ on the car after I took the dog.
I cannot __________ what I would feel if I knew that man had died because of any number of things that may have gone __________. It made me understand that things are not always as they __________, and there are always several sides to every story.
A.quite
B.dark
C.hot
D.dry
A.drove
B.parked
C.took
D.looked
A.save
B.find
C.walk
D.touch
A.sad
B.bored
C.puzzled
D.angry
A.open
B.break
C.clean
D.replace
A.hit
B.called
C.noticed
D.stopped
A.disappointed
B.frightened
C.excited
D.surprised
A.looked after
B.went after
C.shouted at
D.pointed at
A.why
B.how
C.when
D.where
A.working
B.sleeping
C.standing
D.lying
A.attack
B.rest
C.opportunity
D.fight
A.important
B.strange
C.bad
D.clear
A.known
B.continued
C.stayed
D.helped
A.uncertainty
B.anxiety
C.exhaustion
D.emotion
A.risky
B.hard
C.right
D.big
A.judge
B.act
C.blame
D.agree
A.address
B.note
C.mark
D.number
A.believe
B.face
C.imagine
D.remember
A.quickly
B.differently
C.perfectly
D.smoothly
A.seem
B.happen
C.expect
D.prefer
32、Afel was only a very small boy when he first saw snow in a picture book. It had lots of pictures of children _______ in big white fields. He asked, “Mum, what are those white fields?” His mother laughed, “That’s snow, and they are making a snowman!” She tried to _______
What snow was. Afel didn’t really _______ because there was no real snow where he lived. But he showed great interest.
One day when he was 12, Afel was watching a programme on TV at his uncle’s house. The programme was full of snow. And not only snow—there were people _______ across the snow. They looked like fantastic birds. They had hats covering all their heads and big goggles over their eyes. And on their feet, they had _______ shoes.
“What are those?” he asked his uncle excitedly. “Skis,” replied his uncle. “And those people are called skiers.” At that moment, he _______ to be a skier. He asked his uncle what the programme was. “The Winter Olympics,” said his uncle. “It’s like the normal Olympics, but for _______ where you need snow—ski jumping, bobsleigh(长橇), those sorts of things. They have it every four years.”
Afel found out that the next Winter Olympics would be in Beijing, in 2022. “Perfect,” he thought. “Enough _______ for me to become a brilliant skier.”
“But there’s no snow here!” people told him. “Where are you going to ski?” Afel _______ them. He made himself a pair of skis from two pieces of wood. He tied them to his feet and practised skiing _______ two sticks in his hands. He practised again and again until he could _______ quite quickly across the sand. He _______ to fly down the hills like the people on TV, but he couldn’t.
“Never mind,” he thought. “It’s a _______”
“How will you go to the Olympics?” people asked him. “Our country doesn’t even have a team that goes to the Winter Olympics. We have good runners and win lots of medals at the Olympics. But no skiing, no.” Afel didn’t care.
So every night, out in the middle of the desert, Afel now practises skiing down sand hills. He _______ that the yellow sand and brown earth are as gold as the medal he will bring home with him, when he is the _______.
【1】
A.drawing
B.playing
C.dancing
D.hiking
【2】
A.announce
B.stress
C.conclude
D.explain
【3】
A.mind
B.respond
C.understand
D.regret
【4】
A.walking
B.riding
C.running
D.flying
【5】
A.strong
B.strange
C.fashionable
D.comfortable
【6】
A.promised
B.claimed
C.agreed
D.decided
【7】
A.projects
B.fields
C.sports
D.courses
【8】
A.time
B.energy
C.experience
D.determination
【9】
A.avoided
B.ignored
C.corrected
D.criticized
【10】
A.pushing
B.pulling
C.holding
D.waving
【11】
A.roll
B.march
C.jump
D.move
【12】
A.needed
B.prepared
C.pretended
D.attempted
【13】
A.start
B.chance
C.solution
D.strategy
【14】
A.dreams
B.predicts
C.assumes
D.realizes
【15】
A.authority
B.champion
C.genius
D.celebrity
33、 Some dreams take longer to come true than others, but with the help of 21st-century social media and her great-grandson, at the age of 110, one British woman is _________ hers at long last.
At the end of World War I, Amy Hawkins was a 7-year-old child who loved nothing more than to _________. As a teen, Hawkins set her _________ on becoming an entertainer. Hawkins was on her way, touring the country with a dance troupe (歌舞团) — until her ambition was _________ by her mom, who didn’t see it as a respectable _________ for a young lady.
All these years later, the 110-year-old lady lives at home in Monmouth, South Wales, surrounded by her loved ones. The four-generation family unit includes her granddaughter, Hannah Freeman, and Freeman’s 14-year-old son, Sacha. Even though she’s no longer doing it _________, Hawkins has never stopped singing.
“She’s like a clock, once you wind her up she won’t stop,” Freeman said in an interview. “She just keeps asking, ‘Would you _________ another one?’.”
On Hawkins’ 110th birthday, Sacha _________ his great-gran singing one of her favorite WWI tunes. When Freeman jokingly suggested Sacha post it to TikTok, neither of them could have _________ the overwhelmingly positive response it would receive, reaching 100,000 views and a large number of emotional praises in just days.
Some journeys take longer than others. Sometimes, we’re detoured (绕路) along the way. Dreams can and do come true every day. While it’s been a long time coming, Amy Hawkins is ____________ a whole new generation of fans.
A.reflecting
B.realizing
C.recalling
D.researching
A.sing
B.study
C.paint
D.film
A.values
B.limits
C.sights
D.hands
A.cut back
B.cut in
C.cut through
D.cut short
A.method
B.grade
C.level
D.occupation
A.nervously
B.professionally
C.reasonably
D.secretly
A.bring
B.have
C.like
D.read
A.caught
B.videoed
C.reported
D.remembered
A.imagined
B.noticed
C.missed
D.suspected
A.entertaining
B.becoming
C.representing
D.inviting
34、Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
Knowledge is free on the Internet at a small but 【1】 number of colleges and universities. About 160 schools around the world now put free course materials on the web to the 【2】. Recent additions in the United States 【3】 projects at Yale, Johns Hopkins and the University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley said it would offer videos of lectures on YouTube. Free videos from other schools are 【4】 at the Apple iTunes store.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) became an early 【5】 with its Open Course Ware project, first 【6】 in 2001. Free lecture notes, exams and other resources are published at ocw.mit.edu. Many exams even include the answers. Today, Open Course Ware offers materials from 1,800 undergraduate and graduate courses. These 【7】 from Physics to Political Science. Visitors can learn the same things as MIT students learn. But as the site points out, Open Course Ware is not an MIT education. Visitors receive no credit toward a degree. Some materials from a course may not be available, and the site does not provide 【8】 with teachers. Still, MIT says that the site has had forty million visits by thirty-one million visitors from almost every country. Sixty percent of the visitors are from outside the United States and Canada. Students and educators use the site, including students at MIT. But the largest number of visitors, about half, are self-learners.
Some professors have become well-known around the world as a result of 【9】 online. Walter Lewin, a physics professor at MIT, is 【10】 popular. Fans enjoy his entertaining lectures. MIT Open Course Ware now includes materials for high school. The aim is to improve education in Science, Technology, Math and Engineering.
35、
Rapidly advancing technology and its impact on education has been a subject of debate. How can schools equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a challenging job market?
Since technology is driving these changes, there is a theory that governments should keep focusing on STEM subjects. These are often referred to as “hard skills,” which are 【1】 in primary school and right through to university level. In the meantime, ‘soft skills’ are being 【2】.
This is a mistake. Much evidence suggests that soft skills are far more 【3】 to graduates in the long term. Research from Harvard University on the global job market has shown that STEM- related careers grew strongly between 1989 and 2000 but have slowed down since. In contrast, jobs in the creative industries----the sector probably most 【4】 with the need for soft skills---are growing rapidly. Soft skills are, in fact, increasingly in demand in the workplace: Google cites creativity, leadership 【5】 and communication skills as top requirements for both potential and current employees.
So why are soft skills so highly 【6】 for?
With the rapid evolution of technology, a focus on hard skills leaves students 【7】 to change, as these often have a short shelf life. According to research by World Economic Forum, more than one in four adults reports a mismatch between their skills and those needed for their job role. If soft skills are taught well, these skills should enable students to adapt to change more easily and progress further in their 【8】 career.
Of course, technical skills are important. But without the curriculum placing equal--- if not greater --- 【9】 on soft skills, our education systems are missing a huge trick. Hard skills may help a student get a job in a particular industry, but soft skills will help them disrupt it, achieving a wider 【10】 in their chosen field.
36、Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
AI artwork sells for $432,500 — nearly 45 times its high【1】 — as Christie’s becomes the first auction house to offer a work of art created by an algorithm. This portrait, however, is not the product of a human mind. It was created by an【2】 intelligence, an algorithm defined by that algebraic formula with its many parentheses. And when it went under the【3】 in the Prints & Multiples sale at Christie’s on 23-25 October, Portrait of Edmond Belamy sold for an【4】 $432,500, signaling the arrival of AI art on the world auction stage.
From a distance, Portrait of Edmond de Belamy looks almost plausible. Up close, however, the paintwork becomes a grid of mechanical-looking dots, the man’s face a golden blur with black holes for eyes. Look into those eyes. They show no sign of feeling or life. Did a computer make this?
The answer is yes. The first artwork【5】 by AI to be sold at Christie’s, its【6】 price would seem to suggest that in future we will get computers to make art for us. Robot van Gogh will harmlessly cut its ear off and robot Picasso will be a genius.
Is this the future AI art visionaries such as the French collective Obvious, which programmed this “painter” by getting it to compare its own work with 15,000 pre-20th century portraits, have in mind? Or are they just, God forbid, making a fast buck from deceivable art collectors? Because believing the algorithm that knocked this up to be in any meaningful way an “artist” is like thinking your voice-interaction programme is out to get you. Dream on. Computers would need to replicate human consciousness before they could replicate the funny thing humans do called “art”.
Art is a way in which human 【7】 expresses itself, and is equally true of the earliest cave art, Rembrandt’s portraits and Duchamp’s urinal. And that is what is missing from Portrait of Edmond Bellamy. Art is a way humans communicate ideas, perceptions and feelings to each other. It has no 【8】 outside the human passion to communicate. So in what meaningful sense can an AI replica of certain【9】 traits of old master paintings be called art?
For a robot to really make art, it would need an autonomous mind that was emotional as well as【10】. No AI developer has yet claimed to be anywhere near achieving that and if they ever do, their creation will probably have better things to do than paint portraits — like destroy humanity.
Maybe afterwards robots will invent their own kind of art, but it won’t be some poor pastiche of human genius.
It will be beyond anything we organics could imagine.
37、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。
Everyone has their own unique fingerprint; 【1】 makes fingerprints an ideal way to unlock smartphones. However, this may be 【2】 (safe) than we think.
Scientists at New York University and Michigan State University in the US have developed a set of fake fingerprints. They say that the prints 【3】 unlock any fingerprint-enabled smartphone up to 65 percent of the time.
The artificial fingerprints 【4】 (create) by using many common features found in human prints. They work 【5】 taking advantage of the way smartphone scanners check a fingerprint.
The fingerprint scanners 【6】 (use) in smartphones are so small that they only read parts of fingerprints. So they have to take many scans of your finger or thumb (拇指) 【7】 they work properly. Smartphones also let users save several finger and thumbprints. Since a print only has to match one of the saved images 【8】 (unlock) the phone, the scanner is more likely to make mistakes.
Although the scientists have only tested their findings in computer simulations (模拟), 【9】 (worry) about the safety of using fingerprints are reasonable .They warn that the technology used to create artificial fingerprints is improving 【10】 (extreme) fast.
38、假定你是李华,在美国作交换生,得知当地为庆祝端午节要举办赛龙舟活动,你想邀请好友Louise一起报名参加,请给她写一封信,要点如下:
1. 写信目的;
2. 活动意义;
3. 赛前准备。
注意:1. 词数80左右。
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
3. 龙舟节 the Dragon Boat Festival
为了纪念 in memory of
提前看视频 watch some videos in advance
分享经验 share experience
Dear Louise,
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Yours,
Li Hua
39、你校将举办一次主题为“我和我的祖国(Me and My Motherland)”的英语征文比赛,你受学生会委托为学校宣传栏的“英语天地”写一则通知。内容包括:
1. 征文比赛的具体要求;
2. 动员大家参加。
注意: 1. 词数100左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
参考词汇:爱国精神patriotism
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40、假设你是李华,近日你校将接待一批来自美国的交换生,现征寄宿家庭。你对此很感兴趣。请你用英语给负责此项工作的外教James写一封申请信。
内容包括:1. 说明写作意图 2. 陈述自己的优势 3.表达期望
注意:⑴词数100左右;
⑵可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
寄宿家庭: host family 交换生: exchange student
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41、假设你是红星中学高二学生李华。请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序,为校刊“英语角” 投稿,记述上周端午节时,你和父母去看望爷爷奶奶,并学习了包粽子的整个过程。
注意:1.词数不少于 60; 2.开头已给出。
During Dragon Boat Festival holiday, my parents and I went to see my grandparents. We enjoyed our family time together.
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