Elon Musk has expressed his company – Neuralink is close to announcing the first brain-machine interface (接口) to connect humans and computers. Musk told followers in Twitter the technology would be “coming soon” – though he failed to provide details.
Neuralink was set up in 2016 with the ambitious goal of developing hardware to strengthen the human brain. However, little about how this will work has been made public. Neuralink describes the interface as an extremely high-speed connection between the human brain and computers.
Musk has frequently claimed the rapid rise of artificial intelligence poses an existential risk to humanity. Such an interface, he says, is essential if humans are to compete with such technology in the future. At a technology conference in 2016, Mr Musk said humans risked being treated like house pets by AI machines if a brain-computer interface was not built. Last year on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Musk said Neuralink’s technology would allow humans to “effectively combine with AI”.
A paper published in Nature Nanotechnology in 2015 described a concept for this connection, explaining how a flexible circuit (回路) could be injected into a living brain. “We’re trying to lessen the distinction between electronic circuits and neural circuits,” said Harvard researcher Charles Lieber, who co-authored the study. Despite the technology’s potential to increase the human brain, experts have warned that brain-computer interfaces risk being controlled by vicious (恶意的) artificial intelligence.
Such an action could lead to AI controlling the thoughts, decisions and emotions of a person using a brain-computer link. “Technological developments mean that we are on a path to a world in which it will be possible to discover people’s mental processes and directly operate the brain mechanisms underlying their intentions, emotions and decision,” stated a Nature comment piece written by 27 scientists and machine intelligence engineers. “The possible medical and social benefits in it are vast. But we must guide their development in a way that respects, protects and enables what is best in humanity.”
1.What message did Musk convey about his Neuralink?
A.It sells brain-machine interfaces.
B.It offers rich data about interfaces.
C.It has followers to connect humans and computers.
D.Its new technology will be accessible to the public soon .
2.What can we know from Paragraph Two?
A.Neuralink aims to know the human brain better.
B.How the hardware functions is already known.
C.The brain-machine interface was invented in 2016.
D.The interface is expected to link the human brain and computers rapidly.
3.According to Musk, why are brain-machine interfaces important?
A.Because they may treat human like house pets.
B.Because they may make AI serve human better.
C.Because they build neural circuits in human brains.
D.Because they rapidly develop artificial intelligence.
4.What is the attitude of Nature to brain-machine interfaces?
A.Objective B.Favorable
C.Opposed D.Indifferent
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I'm now living in the south of France with my husband Keith and three small children, and I feel like a fish out of water everywhere but one place-the Saturday street market.It's been operating in our small town of Sommieres since the 13th century,but we've only lived here for three months.
From Monday to Friday,life is all about the kids.I'm busy helping my children deal with life in a French school.It's not easy,and their stress is the whole family's stress,as Keith and I are occupied with the daily school runs,piles of homework and school notes in French.
But on Saturday,the market is for me.I feel so peaceful as I walk along the quiet street toward the busy town square.The knife-sharpening man is there, operating a machine that looks like it dates from the Industrial Revolution.There' re street musicians with guitars and microphones,and the sound of beautiful songs fills the air.And the food,of course,is delicious.The cheese man doesn't speak-he just points and cuts,offering a piece from his knife.Lines come out of the door for fresh bread at the bakery.Organic vegetables,herbs and desserts are a feast for the eyes,before being put into the bag to be enjoyed later for lunch.The noises and smells of the market are unfamiliar and thrilling,but their procedures are clear to me.This is part of why I love the place so much:Unlike during the week,when I'm constantly faced with my own difficulties,I know how this place works.My terrible French isn't the barrier to communication that it is in other circumstances.
At school and in the village,I can't joke or join a conversation,and although the other parents at the school are kind,I'm an outsider.But at the market,I'm just another customer with a basket.Surrounded by day trippers,I feel like a local- greeting people I know and petting dogs.
My Saturday experiences allow me to hope that in the near future I'll feel equally confident in my everyday life.Until then,Saturdays prepare me for the coming week of school runs.
1.What does the author mean by saying “I feel like a fish out of water”?
A.She feels uncomfortable in new surroundings.
B.She feels free out of her daily housework.
C.She feels lonely without her children.
D.She feels unable to make a living in another country.
2.What can be learned about the author's life during weekdays?
A.She learns French together with her children.
B.She devotes herself to her children in a French school.
C.She runs to school every day to help her children.
D.She tries to balance her job and the housework.
3.Why does the author like going to the Saturday market?
A.She wants to get away from her family's stress.
B.She can talk with other customers freely there.
C.She feels relaxed and comfortable there.
D.She tries to gain confidence in the busy atmosphere.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The coronavirus outbreak has sparked panic buying of toilet paper and cleaning products in countries across the world, but one UK businessman is determined to spread some happiness among the anxiety and confusion.
Rob Braddick, 48, who owns Braddick’s Holiday Park in Westward Ho, Devon, in the southwest of England, has filled the toy grabber machines in his amusement park with two of the country’s most sought-after cleaning products.
Customers could previously try their hand at grabbing “Frozen 2” or “Peter Rabbit” toys from the machines, but no more. “They got removed this morning,” Braddick said of the toys, replacing them with toilet roll and hand sanitizer (洗手液). Visitors can now pay 50p for three goes on the toilet roll grabber, or a go for Carex, which Braddick described as the “Rolls- Royce of hand sanitizers.”
Braddick said that his decision was born of a desire to make people feel less stressed in uncertain times. “It’s a bit of light relief with everything that’s going on,” he said. “Hopefully it will raise a smile, which I think everybody needs.”
Around the world, travel plans have been severely affected, and tens of millions of people remain at home as part of global efforts to fight against coronavirus. Supermarkets have seen shortages of toilet paper and hand sanitizer as anxious consumers stockpile the products.
Braddick said the family business, which has been running since 1932, has received more than a dozen calls from potential customers who say they don’t want to travel abroad for their holidays and would rather stay in the UK. As for his own measures against coronavirus, Braddick said staff have been told to wash their hands every half hour, which is particularly important for those handling money.
1.What is the third paragraph mainly about?
A.New practice of the game. B.Prizes of the game.
C.Price for a try. D.People’s love for grabbing toys.
2.What’s the purpose of Braddick’s new idea?
A.To make higher profits. B.To attract more people to play the game.
C.To support his family business. D.To ease people’s anxiety.
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Cleaning products will be in shortage for a long time.
B.Braddick’s business is experiencing a hard time.
C.Tourism may fall into a decline.
D.Everyone in the park is told to wash their hands every half hour.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Over the past few months, COVID-19 has caused great uncertainty around the world affecting people's lives in all aspects.Education is also greatly affected. With students all turning to online instruction, live-streamed classes have become popular among schools and universities. 1.
In China, the use of e-learning is unusual not only in size but also in depth. 2. For another, it proves how modern technology changes the way students are educated and encourages further research and development of educational technology to introduce virtual communities between students and teachers.
In fact,online instruction as an alternative teaching mode has been expanding rapidly in recent years.Many Chinese start-ups focus on AI applications in online courses,and various online educational platforms are set up.3. The online education platform MOOC,where a wide variety of courses is available,has attracted the world's top universities to upload and share resources with students around the world.
Compared with formal instruction,online courses save abundant costs and create a flexible teaching mode(模式）－homeschooling,especially during a crisis. 4.For example,rural students with no access to the Internet and television might be left behind in this new mode.When e-learning becomes the only solution for delivering knowledge,the existing divide could be widened,further deepening education inequality.Also,the quality of teaching becomes heavily dependent on uncertain factors,such as a stable connection to the Internet and technical skills.
5.Yet,the pandemic(流行病）has undoubtedly affected the teaching style in a sweeping manner and given educators around the world plenty of time and space to think about the alternative educational modes.
A.However,online teaching has its own disadvantages.
B.The traditional face-to-face teaching style has been challenged.
C.Chinese colleges and universities started the spring term online.
D.Moreover,online education is fairly acceptable to college education.
E.Online teaching provides a chance to reconsider the current education system.
F.For one thing,the impressive practice sets a good example to other countries.
G.So,it's early to predict how the future of the education system will look like.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Catherine decided to rescue Khan after seeing him at the animal shelter. Khan was a (an) _______ dog with a broken leg from being beaten. _______ her family heard about dogs and babies not getting along, to their _______, Khan walked right over to their 17-month-old daughter Charlotte when they were _______. The two sat on the grass and played _______, forming a bond that the family hoped would continue for the rest of Khan’s life.
One day, _______, Khan seemed to be slightly aggressive towards Charlotte. He even _______to push her away from where she played. The family kept a close eye on Khan and that’s when _______ caught their attention. A _______ was hiding right near Charlotte. Khan tried numerous times to push her out of the way but it didn’t ________ and the snake was determined to ________. Wang The family screamed ________ as their daughter’s life was in danger.
In one last ________, Khan grabbed Charlotte by the back of her shirt and ________ her over his shoulder. She ________ more than 3 feet away and the family ran over to her. As it ________, Khan had been bitten as he tried to get in between Charlotte and the snake.
While Khan was at the ________, a local newspaper was covering the incident. They couldn’t ________ an abused rescue dog who had only been with this family for four days would be so heroic. ________ after a couple of days in the hospital, Khan was ________ to return home and he was doing much better.
1.A.experienced B.abused C.fierce D.trained
2.A.As B.Because C.Since D.Although
3.A.regret B.shame C.disappointment D.surprise
4.A.blamed B.warned C.introduced D.teased
5.A.cheerfully B.sadly C.separately D.skillfully
6.A.however B.instead C.therefore D.otherwise
7.A.remembered B.pretended C.managed D.attempted
8.A.nothing B.everything C.something D.anything
9.A.baby B.snake C.dog D.mouse
10.A.fit B.continue C.work D.matter
11.A.strike B.rush C.dive D.hide
12.A.in relief B.in amazement C.in horror D.in excitement
13.A.test B.try C.pull D.fight
14.A.passed B.held C.put D.threw
15.A.landed B.climbed C.jumped D.waited
16.A.got out B.worked out C.turned out D.came out
17.A.shelter B.hospital C.gate D.backyard
18.A.believe B.know C.notice D.accept
19.A.Surprisingly B.Interestingly C.Naturally D.Thankfully
20.A.forced B.allowed C.invited D.persuaded
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式，并将答案填写在答题卡相应的位置上。
English playwright Arthur Wing Pinero said, “Where there’s tea, there’s hope.” Similarly in China, it is said1.firewood, rice, cooking oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven necessary2.(item) to begin a day. Tea is, without doubt, welcomed all over the world. Tea is much more than just a hot drink. It’s a big part of many cultures around the world. People in China use top-grade tea3.(show) respect when4.（receive）important guests. Meanwhile,5.British tradition of afternoon tea is an important part of that country’s identity. As an 6.(express) of Moroccan hospitality and tradition, mint tea – a mix of green tea, spearmint (绿薄荷) leaves and sugar –7.(serve) during gatherings and negotiations. Apart from its 8.(culture) significance, tea is also a medicine, 9.(use) from ancient times to modern day. “Tea is cold and lowers the fire,” Chinese herbalist Li Shizhen once said. The health benefits of tea are still being discovered today: preventing heart disease, obesity and cancer have all been linked10.drinking green tea.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，你的英国笔友 David 给你发了一封邮件，倾诉他因疫情居家进行线上学习所遇到的烦恼，请你针对 David 的问题回复邮件。
Dear Li Hua,
I have some problems. Due to the COVID-19, all of us now have to keep social distance and take online courses at home. I find it hard to constantly focus on studying. I feel tired easily. Worse still, I have become so anxious and short-tempered. I do want to change the situation, but I don’t know how. What should I do?
Yours, David
注意：
1. 词数不低于100；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
Old Man Donovan was a mean man who hated children. He threw rocks at them and even shot at them with a shotgun. At least that's what we had heard.
His small farm bordered our neighborhood where my younger sister, Leigh Ann,and I lived when we were growing up. His farm was long,narrow,and quaint. It held two treasures. One was his beautiful fruit.
There were many varieties of fruit:pears,apples,and lots more I just can't think of. The fruit naturally drew the children to his land. It made them into thieves. But my sister and I didn't dare to take his fruit because of the horrible rumors we had heard about Old Man Donovan.
One summer day,we were playing in a nearby field. It was time to head back home. My sister and I were feeling very daring that day. There was a short cut to our house that went through the Donovan farm. We thought he wouldn't be able to see us run across his property around the luscious fruit trees. We were almost through the farm when we heard, "Hey,girl! "in a gruff,low voice. We stopped dead in our tracks! There we were,face to face with Old Man Donovan. Our knees were shaking. We had visions of rocks pounding our bodies and bullets piercing our hearts. "Come here, "he said,reaching up to one of his apple trees. Still shaking,we went over to him. He held out several ripe,juicy,red apples. "Take these home, "he commanded. We took the apples with surprised hearts and ran all the way home. Of course, Leigh Ann and I ate the apples.
As time went on,we often went through Old Man Donovan's farm,and he kept on giving us more luscious fruit. One day,we stopped by to see him when he was on his front porch. We talked to him for hours. While he was talking,we realized that we had found the other hidden treasure: the sweet,kind heart hidden behind his gruff voice. Soon,he was one of our favorite people to talk to. Unfortunately,his family never seemed to enjoy our company. They never smiled or welcomed us in.
注意：
a.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
b.应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
c.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
d.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
Every summer,we would visit Mr. Donovan and talk to him.
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Paragraph 2:
The next winter,word got around that Old Man Donovan had died.
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析