[题目] Brook wanted a dollhouse and some sugar cookies. So the 6-year-old asked Alexa to get them. Alex, a vice-activated home assistant powered by artificial intelligence (Al), made Brooke's wishes com 题目和参考答案——青夏教育精英家教网—

题目内容

【题目】 Brook wanted a dollhouse and some sugar cookies. So the 6-year-old asked Alexa to get them. Alex, a vice-activated home assistant powered "by artificial intelligence"(Al), made Brooke's wishes come true. A few days later, much to her parents' surprise, four pounds of cookies and a $170 dollhouse showed up. And that's not the end of the story. When a news anchor told Book's story on TV, Alexa devices in many listeners' homes woke up and tried to order dollhouses!

Alexa isn't the only Al willing to order. Apple HomePod has Siri, Google Home has its Assistant, and the upcoming Galaxy Home device will have Bixby. People who own these devices use them mainly for listening to music, checking the weather and setting timers. But many experts predict a boom in voice shopping in the near future. Is that a good thing?

Convenience is the main benefit of voice shopping. You can shout out an order as soon as you think of it, even if you're cooking, cleaning, or driving. In addition, people with disabilities who are unable to use a keyboard or mouse can shop without assistance.

But voice shopping has its downsides. Unwanted dollhouses aren't the biggest problem. It's usually very easy to cancel an order or return items. The thing that creeps some people out is that these assistants are always listening. They have to be able to respond when you want them. So they listen for "Alexa" or "OK Google" or another command. When they hear it, they start recording the conversation. Some have worried about what happens to these recordings. Should companies be allowed to use them to learn about people's shopping habits? Should police access them to solve a crime? And what if someone hacks the device? The CIA found a way to hack smart TVs to turn them into spies that listen all the time. Others could do the same with any smart device.

【1】The writer mentions Brook and Alex in the first paragraph to __________.

A.share an interesting experienceB.show Brook's eagerness for cookies

C.introduce the topic of voice shoppingD.show the functions of a new smart device

【2】What does the underlined phrase "creeps... out" in the last paragraph most probably mean?

A.Terrifies.B.Affects.

C.Impresses.D.Excites.

【3】According to the passage, what's the major disadvantage of voice shopping?

A.The return policy is complicated.

B.There are safety and privacy concerns.

C.Quality of the goods can't be guaranteed.

D.The device is not smart and reliable enough to process orders.

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。六岁的Brook想买一间玩具屋和一些甜点，他通过人工智能语音控制的家庭助手完成了这件事。这引发了人们对语音购物的各种猜想，文章中既提到人工智能购物的有利因素，也谈到其不利方面。

【1】

推理判断题。文章第一段提到Brook想买一间玩具屋和一些甜点，他通过人工智能语音控制的家庭助手Alex完成了这件事，接着文章提出了一个疑问“ Is that a good thing?”语音购物是好事还是坏事？并对其利弊进行了探讨，所以文章提及Brook和Alex是为了引出话题。故选C项。

【2】

词义猜测题。最后一段主要讲语音购物的不利因素。根据画线词所在句后面的内容“They have to be able to respond when you want them. So they listen for "Alexa" or "OK Google" or another command. When they hear it, they start recording the conversation. Some have worried about what happens to these recordings.”可知，语音购物助手会记录人们的谈话，所以引发人们的担忧，由此可推测“The thing that creeps some people out is that these assistants are always listening.”意为“使人们害怕的事情是这些助手总是在听。”故“creeps…out”意为“使……害怕”。故选A项。

【3】

细节理解题。根据最后一段内容尤其是“And what if someone hacks the device? The CIA found a way to hack smart TVs to turn them into spies that listen all the time.”可知，如果有人入侵了这个设备呢?中央情报局找到了一种入侵智能电视的方法，把他们变成了一直监听的间谍。语音助手会记录人们的谈话，所以人们担心如如果设备被入侵就会把语音助手变成总是在窃听的间谍，所以语音购物主要缺点是存在安全和隐私问题。故选B项。

练习册系列答案

But Aldridge’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Goodwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get and keep a job, through a combination of detailed instruction and hands-on experience.

When Aldridge first connected with Goodwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Aldridge also had a limited work history with long employment gaps (间断) , meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.

According to Kayleigh Duff, a career specialist at Goodwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Aldridge had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”

Thankfully, Aldridge had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail (零售) skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Aldridge mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.

The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instruction with on- the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Aldridge progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.

Duff said it was great to see how Aldridge grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”

【1】What can be learned about Goodwill’s training programs?

A.They combine theory with practice.

B.They guarantee a good job for participants.

C.They are designed mainly for the unemployed.

D.They were established in the autumn of 2017.

【2】What was the biggest problem Aldridge faced according to Duff?

A.Poor health.B.Poor working skills.

C.A lack of confidence.D.A lack of a driver’s license.

【3】Why did Aldridge change her training program?

A.She wanted to attend a more systematic program.

B.She wanted to gain some hands-on experience.

C.She was more interested in retail.

D.She followed Duff’s advice.

【4】What’s the main idea of the text?

A.A 50-year-old devotes herself to Goodwill.

B.Goodwill helps a 50-year-old turn her life around.

C.Goodwill training programs spring up around the world.

D.Success is closely linked to appropriate training programs.

【题目】Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Standing desks have been praised for their positive effects on physical health, reducing sitting time and lowering certain health risks linked to a sedentary( 久坐的) lifestyle. But could standing desks have positive mental effects?

New research suggests that students may think best when they are on their feet. It offers some of the first evidence of mental benefits of standing desks in classrooms.

Testing was done on high school freshmen who used standing desks, evaluating them at the beginning and end of the school year. Dr. Ranjana Mehta, an assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health, led the experiments aiming to assess standing desks’ mental benefits.

Through computerized tests, students’ executive functions were evaluated. Executive functions are the cognitive skills used to analyze tasks and break them into steps, and are directly related to academic needs like time management, memorizing facts and solving multi-step problems. These functions are largely controlled by frontal(前额的) brain regions, so researchers used a portable brain-imaging device to examine any related changes.

“Test results indicated that continued use of standing desks was associated with significant improvements in executive functions and working memory abilities,” Mehta said. “Changes in corresponding brain activation patterns were also observed.”

“Interestingly, our research showed the use of standing desks improved mental function, which is consistent with results from previous studies on school-based exercise programs,” Mehta noted.

Policymakers, public health professionals and school administrators should consider the positive effects of standing desks and make some simple changes in classrooms that will have the potential to increase energy expenditure and develop cognitive skills. That would be a valuable contribution to the educational world.

【题目】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。将答案填写在答题卡的相应位置

English was once 【1】 (speak) only by people in a part of Britain. But during the twentieth century, it became a world language-a language used by speakers of many different languages 【2】 (communicate) with each other. 【3】 it is called a “world language”, more than five billion people- most of people on the earth-do not speak English as either their first 【4】 second language. However, hundreds of millions of people use it, and hundreds of millions are learning it. Because so many people learn and use English, it may be hard to imagine that one day English may not be the world’s 【5】 (lead) language. Remember that there were other important languages in the past which lost their 【6】 (important) or even disappeared. In Europe, Latin was used as a common language for many centuries before people stopped using it. French was once a language 【7】 (know) by all well-educated people, and was 【8】 (popular) than English. But since the nineteenth century, English 【9】 (become) more popular than French. Today, many people 【10】 want to learn a new language are learning Chinese, Spanish or Arabic. It may be that, one day, instead of English, another language will be used across the world.

【题目】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.

People in Italy , where some medical supplies are running low due to the COVID─19 outbreak，have expressed their【1】(appreciate) for China’s help after a planeload of needed supplies arrived. These medical supplies, including masks, 【2】 (deliver) to Italy a short time ago to help it deal with its growing crisis. “In this moment of stress, of great difficulty, we are【3】 (deep) relieved to have this arrival of supplies. This is for sure a really important donation for Italy, 【4】 is fighting against the virus,” said the head of the Italian Red Cross.

A team of nine【5】 (competence) Chinese medical workers arrived in Rome late on Thursday, along with 31 metric tons of equipment, on a flight【6】 (organize) by the Red Cross society of China.

Italy’s outbreak risks 【7】 (overload) the nation’s hospitals. Some key supplies are running low and the health care system is already【8】stress. Reuters reported that none of Italy’s【9】 (partner) in the European Union responded to Rome’s requests for help with medical supplies. On【10】contrary, China responded. An Italian man played Chinese national anthem (国歌) during the “balcony concert” on Saturday in Rome.

【题目】听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

【1】What is the probable relationship between the speakers?

A.Friends.B.Couples.C.Neighbors.

【2】Why does the woman want to have garden?

A.To fit in with others.

B.To have parties in the garden.

C.To make their house look better.

【3】What flowers does the woman choose?

A.Lilies.B.Roses.C.Sunflowers.

【题目】假定你是李华，你校学生会将举办一年一度的“校园美食节”活动，请你作为学生会主席给外教Mr. Johnson写一封邮件，内容包括：

1. 邀请他参加；

2. 介绍美食节情况；

3. 期待回复。

注意：1. 词数100左右。

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

3. 开头结尾已经写好，不计收入总词数。

Dear Mr. Johnson,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

【题目】 During the COVID-19 crisis, even the simple act of buying groceries has been completely transformed. For seniors this task is even more challenging. Concordia University's ACT project team has joined with community partners in the neighbourhood to fill this gap. They've rapidly created a new program-COVID-19 Grocery Response NDG.

The program uses a model that pairs volunteers with seniors, based on availability and language. Those volunteers are trained by ACT's team via video conferencing and then given a list of older adults. The volunteer calls the individuals and takes their order, working with grocer offerings of a Provigo store in the area. When the call is over, the order gets sent to Provigo, which gathers and delivers the order to the senior. It won't take the place of the work of the food bank; seniors are paying for their groceries.

There is also an important social element to the call, which doubles as a friendly check -in. The volunteer chats a bit with the senior, who may be very lonely and anxious. One volunteer says it has also been a rewarding experience and gives her the opportunity to help others while staying at home, which they are all being encouraged to do.

The program is a response to a number of factors, including the fact that many older adults are on a fixed income and may not have the internet access needed to order groceries online. It is targeting seniors who aren't able to access New Hope's usual meals on wheels service.

So far the project is a success, with a growing number of volunteers and seniors. As for what's next, Concordia is optimistic but acknowledges that the team will need to be nimble to accommodate the changing realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are at a critical time and we need to do everything we can, together, to help out.

【1】What do the volunteers do to help the seniors?

A.Help them pay the bill.B.Send their order to the store.

C.Write a shopping list for them.D.Deliver their groceries lo the door.

【2】What can we infer about the programme from paragraph 3?

A.It benefits both sides.B.It helps the store survive.

C.It goes beyond expectation.D.It encourages people to purchase online.

【3】Who might be the potential client of the program?

A.Daisy aged 45 with a heavy debt.B.David who enjoys meals on wheels service.

C.Alexander aged 75 with a retirement pension.D.Elspeth who knows noting about online shopping.

【4】What does the underlined word “nimble” probably mean?

A.Flexible.B.Beneficial.

C.Accessible.D.Qualified.

【题目】 Every year, groups of tourists travel to central US states like Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska for their summer vacation. 【1】 They’re going to chase storms.

Once an activity only for scientists and adventurous types, storm chasing has now become an increasingly popular pastime for people from all over the world. 【2】 Storm chasers analyze weather reports and maps to locate an incoming storm before driving hundreds of miles toward it to witness a tornado in action.

The people going on these tours vary from curious first-time chasers looking for something different to storm chasing “addicts” like Nicholas Lee, a weather forecaster from the UK. 【3】 Now he saves up his vacation days to go storm chasing for three weeks every summer in the center of the US. It is the place well known for producing massive storms.

【4】 Since then the activity has continued to grow in popularity. Considering its potential dangers, it possesses, it is obviously not for everybody. And yet, more and more people are coming out doing the storm-chasing tours.

The real dangers of storm chasing are not just being swept up by a tornado. When a large tornado is predicted for the day, a number of storm chasers will drive to that high-risk area, causing serious traffic jams, which makes it harder to access the perfect spot to witness a tornado. The escape routes will be too congested as well. 【5】 Take the tornado that touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma in 2013. More than 150 people were injured, and 20 killed in it, including Tim Samaras, an experienced storm chaser plus his son and another partner.

Despite the increasing interest in storm chasing, it is still a very non-mainstream hobby.

A.Sometimes it can be life-threatening.

B.He went on his first storm-chasing tour in 2015.

C.But these people are not looking for sunshine or sightseeing.

D.He cannot wait to see that happening at any time soon.

E.Storm chasing was first popularized by the 1996 film Twister.

F.It means going to“high risk areas”where severe weather occurs.

G.How did potentially deadly weather become a popular tourist attraction?

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