A.I. (人工智能) is just starting to become part of our lives, and books and movies have been talking about A.I. and robots for years. Mostly, in these books and movies, the computers and robots turn out to be the enemies of the human race. Here is a selection of some famous A.I. movies..
2001: A Space Odyssey
In the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, HAL is one of the first computers to talk like a human. HAL is very frightening because it speaks in a calm voice as it goes on a killing spree (疯狂杀戮). When the astronauts attempt to hide in a smaller spaceship and switch off the microphones, HAL uses a camera to read their lips and understand what the astronauts are saying.
The Terminator
In The Terminator, a computer thinks that its deadly enemies are human beings. As a result, the computer launches missiles (导弹) to start international wars and then builds killer robots to destroy the human race.
The Matr/x
In The Matrix, a computer takes over the world and uses human beings for energy. The computer keeps people alive by making them think that they are still living normal lives. A few brave rebels (叛逆者) decide to fight against the computer. 
Star War movies
In the Star War movies, computerised robots are used as servants and soldiers. R2-D2, a small cylindrical (圆柱形的) robot, and C-3PO, a tall talking robot, help some humans defeat the evil ruler, Darth Vader, in a dangerous battle between the forces of good and evil.
1, In the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, the astronauts switch off the microphones to
A. prevent HAL hearing whom they axe calling
B. prevent HAL hearing what they are saying
C. force HAL to use a camera
D. force HAL to speak loudly
2. If you want to know how an intelligent computer uses human beings for energy, you should watch __
A. The Terminator. 
B. 2001: A Space Odyssey'
C. Star War movies
D. The Matrix
3. R2-D2 and C-3PO stand for
A. the scientific forces
B. the natural forces
C. the good forces
D. the evil forces
4. What do the four movies have in common?
A. They all have the same ending.
B. They are about a similar theme.
C. They are all based on science fiction books.
D. They started heated discussions about A.I.
Comfort is comforting, but it might narrow our experience at work — and beyond.
In our modern world, discomfort is considered a terrible thing. If not terrible, at least a thing of the past. Dishwashers, washing machines, computers, remote controls—yes, they add convenience, but also a level of comfort our forefathers did not enjoy.
As pain of any kind discourages happiness, we tend to reason, anything that compromises our ability to feel good must be bad. And that’s also particularly true for our careers. Success makes us feel great, not terrible. Such a view, however, is a matter of personal opinion. And it may blind us to hidden opportunities.
Artists throughout history have tried to experience suffering, instinctively if not consciously, to produce works that explore the darker hidden sides of the human condition. This was done, in part, because pain is a reality of life for everybody in some form at some time. Pain is something everybody can relate to. And pain makes a person very present. For such artists, to relieve or to deny pain would be to block the creative thinking, which drives them to explore and express. In fact, Germans have a term for this melancholia, “Weltschmerz”, which means “suffering from the world.” Writers, from Lord Byron to Kurt Vonnegut, have used the term to describe the psychological pain encountered along life’s roller-coaster journey. It was not to be avoided; it was to be understood, investigated and employed.
So I propose that discomfort is good for us. Or, put another way, it tells us that something needs to be addressed. It stretches us by forcing us to view our circumstances through a wholly different lens. Because we’re drawn to safety and security, we do our best to create pleasant comfort zones for ourselves and our loved ones through the cars we drive, the homes we live in, and the places we work. But by resisting discomfort, we deny ourselves an important opportunity: the chance to shake ourselves out of our predictable perspectives and allow ourselves to make knowledgeable observations we could not possibly have made before. Discomfort gives us fresh eyes.Which of the following is NOT a reason why artists throughout history have been exploring sufferings?
| A．Pain is a mirror that can reflect the life of everybody. |
| B．Pain is something that no one can escape from. |
| C．Pain can help them to avoid the creative thinking. |
| D．Pain can strengthen the feeling of existence of a person. |
The term “Weltschmerz” couldn’t be used to describe something like __________.
| A．social inequality | B．mass killings |
| C．racial discrimination | D．great achievements |
The author believes that by challenging discomfort, one may _________.
| A．lose an important chance to make a big fortune |
| B．feel upset and fail to think calmly |
| C．judge and think about the world in a new particular way |
| D．control the situation properly when things go unsteady |
By writing this passage, the author tries to __________.
| A．criticize a world full of comfort |
| B．explain why discomfort is good for us |
| C．persuade people to lead a life full of discomfort |
| D．blame those who enjoy an easy life |
If you need glasses to read this, you are among the majority of Chinese students. That’s because most students in China are short-sighted which means they can only see things close up and distant things will be blurry. Four-fifths of high school students wear glasses and now more and more children in primary school need glasses, too.
This epidemic of poor eyesight has two very simple causes: too much time spent indoors studying and too little time spent outdoors playing. Reading and writing for hours and hours, sometimes in poorly lighted rooms, causes eyesight to weaken. But students have to do this because there is so much pressure on them to succeed in school. And because they spend so much time indoors at school and at home, they have less time to spend outdoors enjoying the sun.
The sun, as a consequence, is important in developing good eyesight. Exposure to daylight releases a chemical in the eyes that prevents, or at least delays, short-sightedness. According to a study by Ian Morgan of Australian National University, Australian children and Chinese children have the same level of eyesight before they start school, but once they enter primary school, Chinese children only spend about an hour a day outside, while Australian children spend three to four hours each day in the sunshine. The result is that while about 40 percent of Chinese primary school students need glasses, only three percent of Australian children do.
Wearing glasses may not seem like a big deal. For some, wearing glasses can even be an opportunity to make a fashion statement. But poor eyesight at a young age can have serious long term consequences. As you get older, your eyesight can worsen and lead to things like macular degeneration(黄斑变性), a condition of the eyes for which there is no cure and which can eventually lead to blindness.
With all that in mind, don’t you think it’s time to give your eyes a break? Try spending a little less time inside and go for a walk in the park, instead. It’s the healthy thing to do and your eyes will thank you for it.What does the underlined word “blurry” mean?
| A．unpopular. | B．unpleasant. |
| C．unclear. | D．unconscious. |
How should the students protect their eyesight according to the passage?
| A．They should study less and less. |
| B．They should stay longer outdoors. |
| C．They should wear sun-glasses. |
| D．They should have a longer rest in bed. |
It can be inferred from the passage that __________ is to blame for the poor eyesight of Chinese children.
| A．the ever-worsening bad weather |
| B．the ever-increasing burden of study |
| C．the ever-decreasing sunny days |
| D．the ever-decreasing period of study time |
What is the purpose of this article?
| A．To explain why Chinese students are poor-sighted. |
| B．To admire Australian children’s good eyesight. |
| C．To criticize the present education system. |
| D．To call on people to protect Chinese children’s eyesight |
Alice’s mother died when Alice was five years old. Alice, who grew up to be my mother, told me that after her mother’s death her family was too poor to even afford to give her a doll.
In December 2012, I had a job at a local bank. One afternoon, we were decorating the tree in the bank lobby(大厅). One of my customers approached me with her beautiful handmade dolls. I decided to get one for my daughter, Katie, who was almost five years old. Then I had an idea. I asked my customer if she could make me a special doll for my mother—one with gray hair and spectacles(眼镜): a grandmother doll. And she gladly agreed.
A friend had told me that his dad who played Santa Claus would be willing to make a visit on Christmas morning to our home to deliver my Katie her presents, so I made some special arrangements.
Christmas Day arrived and at the planned time; so did Santa Claus. Katie was surprised that Santa had come to see her at her own house. As Santa turned to leave, he looked once more into his bag and found one more gift. As he asked who Alice was, my mother, surprised at her name being called, indicated that she in fact was Alice. Santa handed her the gift, with a message card that read:
For Alice:
I was cleaning out my sleigh(雪橇) before my trip this year and came across this package that was supposed to be delivered on December 25,1953. The present inside has aged, but I felt that you might still wish to have it. Many apologies for the lateness of the gift.
Love,
Santa Claus
My mother’s reaction was one of the most deeply emotional scenes I have ever seen. She couldn’t speak but only held the doll she had waited fifty-nine years to receive as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. That doll, given by “Santa”, made my mother the happiest “child” that Christmas.The reason why the writer’s mother couldn’t have a doll when young was that_________.
| A．Santa Clause forgot to deliver the doll to her |
| B．her daughter couldn’t make a doll by herself |
| C．her parents left the doll in the Santa Clause’s sleigh |
| D．her family was badly off when she was a child |
It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
| A．the writer’s father played the Father Christmas |
| B．the writer’s mother was already in her sixties when she received the doll |
| C．the writer asked one of her friends to make the doll for her mother |
| D．the Santa Clause was too careless to deliver the doll on time |
When the writer’s mother received the doll that she had waited so long, she was __________.
| A．pleased and inspired | B．puzzled and angry |
| C．happy and excited | D．curious and grateful |
The best title for this passage could be __________.
| A．A Doll from Santa | B．An unforgettable Christmas |
| C．A considerate daughter | D．A help from Santa Claus |
Migrants to the UK are to be quizzed about their English skills before being able to claim income-related benefits, the government has announced.
In a move to "protect the integrity（完整性）of the benefits system", people will also be asked what efforts they have made to find work before coming to Britain. Work and Pensions Secretary Duncan Smith said people should not be able to "take advantage" of British benefits. Job centres in England, Scotland and Wales will use the "more mighty" test. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the test would ensure "only migrants who have a legal right to be in Britain and plan to contribute to this country can make a claim for benefits".
"For the first time, migrants will be quizzed about what efforts they have made to find work before coming to the UK and whether their English language skills will be a barrier to them finding employment," the DWP said in a statement.
Income-related benefits include council tax benefit, housing benefit, income-based jobseeker's allowance and pension credit.
Mr. Duncan Smith said British people were "rightly concerned" that migrants should contribute to the economy and should not be "drawn here by the attractiveness of our benefits system".
"It is vitally important that we have strict rules in place to protect the integrity of our benefits system," he said. He said the new test would help create a fair system which provided for "genuine" workers and jobseekers but "does not allow people to come to our country and take advantage".
To claim the benefits, migrants will have to pass a "habitual residence test" including more than 100 extra questions compared to now. This will be overseen by an "intelligent IT system" which will ensure questions are "tailored to each individual claimant".
Migrants will be allowed to claim benefits if they can prove they are legally allowed to be in Britain and are "habitually resident" of the country. As part of this they might be questioned about what measures they have taken to "establish" themselves in Britain and what ties they still have abroad.
"They will also have to provide more evidence that they are doing everything they can to find a job," the DWP said.What does the British government use the test for?
| A．promoting the English skills of migrants. |
| B．making efforts to help migrants find work. |
| C．protecting the rights of migrants. |
| D．ensuring the British benefit claimed legally by migrants . |
What do we know about the test?
| A．All British residents must be quizzed about their English skills. |
| B．The test will ask migrants whether they are willing to work in Britain. |
| C．The test is an act to protect British benefits system. |
| D．The test will help the government dismiss jobseekers. |
What does the underlined word “claimant “(in para.7) probably mean in the text?
| A．a person who applies | B．a person who is badly off |
| C．a person who migrates | D．a person who is quizzed |
What does the passage mainly want to inform us?
| A．All migrants can claim benefits from the UK. |
| B．Income-related benefits can be a great help to migrants. |
| C．All migrants come to the UK only to claim benefits. |
| D．Migrants are to pass a test to get the benefits from the UK. |
We Chinese are not big huggers. A handshake or a pat on the shoulder is enough to convey our friendship or affection to one another.So when our newly-acquainted Western friends reach out in preparation for a hug, some of us feel awkward.
Many questions go through our head. Where should I put my arms? Under their armpits or around their neck? What distance should I maintain? Should our chests touch?
It’s even more difficult with friends from some European countries. Should I kiss them on the cheek while hugging? Which side? Or is it both cheeks? Which side should I start on?
But it isn’t just people from cultures that emphasize a reservedness in expressing physical intimacy(亲密) who find hugging confusing. Hugs can cause discomfort or even distress in people who value their personal space.
In a recent article for The Wall Street Journal, US psychologist Peggy Drexler said that although the US remains a “medium touch” culture — “more physically demonstrative than Japan, where a bow is the all-purpose hello and goodbye, but less demonstrative than Latin or Eastern European cultures, where hugs are strong and can include a kiss on both cheeks”, Americans do seem to be hugging more.
From politicians to celebrities, hugs are given willy-nilly to friends, strangers and enemies alike; and the public has been quick to pick up the practice. Public figures know that nothing projects like the ability as a good hug. US First Lady Michelle Obama has put her arms around icy foreign leaders like Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Queen of England, on the latter occasion actually breaking the rule of royal manners.
But not all are grateful to be embraced, even by the most influential and famous. To them, any hug is offensive if it’s not sincere.
Amanda Hess, writing for US magazine Slate, says public figures should stop imposing hugs on everyone they meet. For them, a hug is rarely a gesture of sincere fellowship, compassion or affection. It’s all part of a show. Hugs are falsely intimate power plays used by public figures to establish their social dominance over those in their grasp.
Cecilia Walden, a British journalist writing for The Telegraph who lives in New York, holds the same opinion. “Power-hugging”, as she calls it, is “an offender dressed up as kindness”. It has become a fashion in the US where “bosses are already embracing their staff (either shortly before or after firing them), men and women ,their friends or enemies, in a thousand cheating displays of unity”.From the first four paragraphs, we can see that ___________.
| A．we Chinese people don’t know how to hug |
| B．people from European countries often get puzzled about hugging |
| C．people in Western countries seldom use hugs to express their physical closeness |
| D．hugs can bring pressure to people when used improperly |
The example of US first lady Michelle Obama is given to show that __________.
| A．Americans hold a “medium touch ”culture |
| B．public figures know hugging functions well in public |
| C．she is much liked by American people |
| D．hugs are forbidden in England |
“Power-hugging” in the last paragraph actually means that _________.
| A．hugs are only used sincerely by some people with power |
| B．hugging is powerful to bosses in US |
| C．public figures sometimes use hugging just for a show of power |
| D．public figures can hug anyone in their grasp freely |
What can be the best title of this passage?
| A．Hugs, vital or not? | B．Hugs, tricky affair? |
| C．Hugs and public figures | D．Hugs and power |
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